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See page 85. 



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r-m.-iiinnf I iiinn 1 fisn An»1 vf ic.iil And HnnRiilt iniT Ohemist. 



Cincinnati, June, 18S0 



Analytical and Consulting Chemist. 



«^SOLr> EVEIIY^\^HERE!^^ 



S. GUCKENHEIMER & SON, 

Uos. 149 and 151 BAY STREET, 
SAVANNAH, « - = GEORGIA. 



Sole Agents for the Entire States of Georgia and Florida. 

See page 85. 



SAVANNAH : 



HER 



Trade, Commerce and Industries, 



1883-4. 



Manufacturing Advantages, Business and 
Transportation Facilities, 

AM> A DELINEATION OF 

REPRESENTATIVE INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERCIAL ESTABLISHMENTS 

OF THE 

^ ^.^. FOREST CITY OF THE SOUTH. 



Historical and Descriptive Review 



BY JNO. E. LAND, 

Author op "Chicago, the Future Metropolis of the New World." "St. Louis, her Trade 
Commerce and Manufactures." "Milwaukee, her Trade, Commerce and Manufac- 
tures." "Pen Illustrations of New Orleans." "Industries of St. Paul." 
"Industries of Indianapolis." "Industries of Wheeling." "Indus- 
tries OF Peoria." "Industries of Evansville." "Charles- 
ton, s. C, HER Trade, Commerce and Industries." 
AND Many Other Works on the Industrial 
Growth of American Cities. 




l^-ilP.'j 



SAVANNAH : 

COPYRIGHTED AND PUBLISHED BY THE AUTHOR. 

1884. 



PUBLISHER'S NOTICE. 



The design of this work has been to present, in a convenient form for circulation, 
an outline of the resources of Savannah — agricultural, commercial and manufacturing 
— together with sketches of her growth, business, industries, etc., and the advantages 
offered as a place of residence. We have also added special notices of the principal 
business establishments, of an historical and statistical character. 

The benefits such a work, properly' executed — as we hope this one will be 
found to be — will confer upon this city can hardly be over-estimated. Savannah 
possesses extraordinar}' advantages for a great business and industrial center. Capital 
in the East and in Europe is abundant, and is seeking favorable places of investment. 
What we need is to make our advantages known, to show that we have them, and 
wealth and population will flow in upon us as naturally as the waters of the Savannah 
river flow to the sea. 

The notices of business establishments, it is believed, will afford a reasonably 
correct encyclopedia of the trade and industries of this city; and they will, doubtless, 
prove of great value to the parties mentioned, and, therefore, to the business interests 
of the city, in attracting trade hither by making known our advantages and the facil- 
ities for accommodating it. 

In this day of progress and enterprise the business man succeeds best who 
pushes his business most, and this is equally true of a city. When business asthenia, 
or want of enterprise and public spirit, sets in, the future of the city is doomed. We 
are happy, however, to say that few cities in the Union possess business men more 
enterprising and public-spirited than Savannah. This is evidenced n.ot less by the 
alacrity and energy with which they take hold of every enterprise designed for their 
good than by the success with which they have pushed their trade and business in- 
fluence into the interior. 

We desire here to thank them for the encouragement and liberal patronage they 
have given us in the preparation of this work, and especially do we acknowledge our 
obligations to the Cotton Exchange and Board of Trade for their endorsement. We 
hope, and with all due modesty we may say we believe, it will not prove unworthy of 
their consideration, and of the bright Southern Metropolis whose interests it is 
intended to promote. 

JNO. E. LAND, 

Publisher. 



CORRESPONDENCE FROM THE SAVANNAH COTTON EXCHANGE AND 

BOARD OF TRADE. 



The Savannah Cotton Exchange, Savannah, Ga., January 9th, 1884. 
John E. Land, Esq. 

Sir— Tlie Savannah Cotton Exchange, by its Boar<l of Directors, recognize the fact tliat a properly com- 
piled Historical and Descriptive lievicw of Savaniiali— her Trade, Commerce and Industries— would be of 
great advantage to her citizens, and will, with pleasure, afford you all the information it can to enable you to 
compile such a History, and trust all branches of trade will grant vou the facilities vou need that success will 
reward your efforts. Respectfully, 

E. F. BRYAN, Supt. 



Savannah Board of Trade, Savannah, Ga, January 9th, 1884. 
Dear Sir — I am directed to inform you that at a meeting of this Board, at which was considered your in- 
tention to compile and publish an Illustrated Historical Sketch of Savannah— her Trade, Commerce", Indus- 
tries, etc.— it was unanimously decided that such a publication would be of benelit to this community at 
large, and that proper facilities" would be extended by this Hoard ; and thev hope the necessary information 
will be supplied you by the business men of this city to successfully accomplish your purpose. 

Yours Respectfully, 

GEO. P. WALKER, Supt. 



GENERAL INDEX. 



Ancient Savannah (with illustration on page 14), - - - - 13 

Acosta, E. J., Jr., Manufacturer of Crackers and Candy, - - - 119 

Altmayer, A. R., & Co., Notions, Millinery, Shoes, - - - - 121 

Allen, G. W., China, Glass, etc., ._..._ i28 

Allen & Lindsay, Furniture and Carpets, _____ 131 

Appel Bros., Clothiers and Hatters, ______ 138 

Blun, Henry, Stocks, Bonds and Eeal Estate, - - -•- -101 

Bennett, Mrs. R. M., Wigs, Curls, etc., _ - _ _ _ 103 

Bendheim Bros. & Co., Importers of Cigars, etc., _ - _ _ 109 

Bond, T. P., Commission Merchant, etc., - - - - - 115 

Bradstreet's Commercial Agency — Local Manager, Geo. T. Nichols, - - 120 

Buchanan, Frank, Rice Broker, -----_- 124 

Butler, Osceola, Druggist, ---____ 127 

Bowden, Thomas, Sales Stables, - - - - - - -131 

Bacon, Johnson & Co., Planing Mill and Lumber Yard, - - - - 133 

Bogart & Hammond, Cotton Factors, Commission Merchants, etc., - - 142 

Commerce — Introductory, --___. .9 

Commercial History of Savannah, - - - - - -17 

Charities of Savannah, - - - - - - - -63 

Cassels, R. B., "Wood and Coal Dealer, - - - - - -81 

Cox, Dr. Dudley, Live Stock Commission Merchant, . - _ _ 129 

Connor, E. M., Books, Stationery, etc., ______ 130 

Champion, A. H., Grocer and Commission Merchant, _ _ _ - 134 

Carson, L., Livery and Boarding Stables, _____ 141 

Davis Bros., Art Dealers and Booksellers, - - - - - 83 

Dale, Wells & Co., Manufacturers of and Dealers in Pine Lumber, - - 87 

De Martin, R., «& Son, Gray Eagle Livery Stables, - - - - 96 

Dasher, I., & Co., Wholesale and Retail Dry Goods, - - _ _ lOO 

Dixon, Wm. D., Undertaker, -._--_. 104 

Dorsett, C. H., Auctioneer and Commission Merchant, - - _ - 107 

Darnall & Susong, Dealers in Mules and Horses, - - - - 111 

Dorney, John A., Builder, and Mnfr. of Titman's Patent Refrigerators, - 138 

Doyle, M. J., Groceries, Liquors, etc., ______ 139 



6 SAVANNAH HEK 



Educational — ^Public Schools, etc., - - - - - -61 

Packman & Vetsburg, Wholesale Dry Goods and Notions, - - - 77 

Ehrlich, A., Wholesale Grocer and Liquor Dealer, - . . - 106 

Ferrell,^ W. B., Parlor Restaurant, - - - - - - 94 

Farley, F. M., Cotton Factor and Rice Dealer, - - - - - 114 

Flannery, John, & Co., Cotton Factors and Commission, - - - 122 

Footman & Co., Insurance, _---.-. 142 

Grant, H. Frazer, & Co., General Commission Merchants, - - - 82 

Giles, R. H., Plumber and Gas-fitter, - - - - - - 83 

Garnett, Stubbs & Co., Cotton Factors, etc., - - - - - 84 

Guckenheimer, S., & Son, Wholesale Grocers, - - - - - 85 

Golden, P. J., Millinery and Straw Goods, - - - - - 86 

George, F. L., Wholesale and Retail Grocer, - - - - - 88 

Guilmartin, L. J., & Co., Cotton Factors, etc., - - - - - 91 

Gnann, Wm. W. , Wheelwright, Blacksmith, etc., - - - - 112 

Hawkins & Gogorza, Dealers and Manufacturers of Yellow Pine Lumber, etc., 74, 75 

Hennessy, J. H., Grits, Meal, Cracked Corn, etc., - - - - 88 

Hecker, George V., & Co., Self-Rising Flour, Baking Powder, Farina, etc., - 91 

Ha3^wood, Gage & Co., of the Bay Ice Company, . . . . loi 

Hoist & Co., Ship Brokers, etc., - - - - - - - 108 

Hamilton, S. P., Jeweler, - - - - - - -116 

Henderson, M. Y., Cotton Factor and General Commission Merchant, - - 123 

Haynes & Elton, Forest City Mills, ....-- 126 

Hanley, Andrew, Paints and Oils, _..__. 127 

Horse Infirmary — Proprietor, Dr. Dillon, - - - - - 128 

Hess & Hermes, Photographers, ------- 132 

Headman, H. D., Manufacturer of Iron Railing, etc., - - - - 135 

Ilaltiwanger, J. R. , Druggist, ------- 135 

Harmon, A. W., Savannah Club Livery Stables, . - . - 136 

Halligan, Thomas J., Plumbing and Gas-fitting, . - . - 137 

Hopkins, Cormack, Tin Roofer, etc., ------ 139 

Havens, O. Pierre, Photographer, .._-.. 143 

Index, ----------5 

Jackson, W. C, & Co., Naval Stores Factors, - - - - - 94 

Kessler, P. O., & Co., Guns, Rifles, Pistols, etc., - - - - 81 

Kinsey, T. L., Manufacturer and Dealer in Lumber, - - - - 89 

Kehoe's Iron Works, - - - - - - - -95 

Knickerbocker Ice Company — Manager, J. F. Cavannaugh, - - - 96 

Krouskoff, S., Millinery and Straw Goods, . . - . . lOO 

Kennedy, E. J., Merchant Tailor, _....- 102 

Knapp, E. A., Retail Druggist, - - - - - - -118 

Koch, J. H., Watchmaker and Jeweler, ------ 137 

Kuckuck & Seeman, Editors and Proprs. Georgia Familien Journal, - - 144 



TRADE, COMMERCE AKD INDUSTRIES. 



Leading Business Houses of Savannah, - - - - - - 73 

Ludden «&; Bates, Southern Music House, - - - - - 78 

Lester, D. B., Grocer, .-------80 

Lindenstruth, Peter, Jeweler, - - - - - - -85 

Lippman Bros., Importers of Drugs, etc., - - - - - 118 

LaFar, J. F., Furnishing Goods, etc., ------ 134 

Manufactures and Manufacturing Interests of Savannah, - - - 46 

Muir, Duckworth & Co., Cotton Exporters, etc., - - - - 93 

Morrell, W. G., Rice Broker, ----- - 95 

Myers, H., & Bros., Distillers, etc., - - - - - - 98 

Meinhard Bros. & Co., Wholesale Boots, Shoes, etc., - - - - 103 

Meyer, F. H., Jeweler, - - - - - - - - 106 

Myers, Lee Roy, Wholesale Tobacco and Cigars, - - _ - 107 

McMillan Bros., Southern Copper Works, ----- m 

Miller, A. J., & Co., Furniture, Carpets, etc., - - - - - 113 

Miller, Henry, Groceries, Fruits, Wines, etc., - - - - - 114 

McKenna, B. F., & Co., General Dry Goods, - - - - - 117 

McAlpin, G. S., Hay, Corn, Oats, etc., ------ 124 

Mills, W. M., Retail Drugs, - - - - - - - 130 

Masters, P. E., Plumber and Gas-fitter, - - - - - 136 

Meyer, H. J., Practical Plumbing, etc., ------ 138 

McLaughlin, John, & Son, Auctioneers, etc., ----- 141 

Newspapers of Savannah, - - - - - - -68 

Nicolson, John, Plumbers' and Machinists' Supplies, - - - - 92 

Nichols, A. S., Hats and Shoes, - - - - - - - 108 

Noble, G. , Ice Cream Garden, etc., ------ 120 

Neidlinger, E. L., Son «fe Co., Saddles and Harness, etc., - - - 137 

Palmer Bros., Hardware, Rubber Belting, etc., - - - - - 79 

Pavilion Hotel— J. G. Penfield & Bro., Proprs., - - - - 102 

Pacetti, E. C, Guttering, Tin Roofing, etc., ----- 125 

Power, Mrs. Kate, Millinery and Fancy Goods, - . _ - - 143 

Resources of Savannah, --- ----19 

Real Estate Interests in Savannah, - - - - - - 52 

Richardson «fe Barnard, Ship Brokers, etc., - - - - - 97 

Reily, J. J., Coffees, Teas, etc., ------- 101 

Ryan, D. J., Art Gallery, - - - -- - -116 

Russell, Chas, D., Inspector of Naval Stores, ----- 117 

Savannah Steamship Interests, - - - - - - -22 

Savannah Railroad Interests, - - - - - - -24 

Savannah as a Place of Residence, - - - - - - 56 

Solomon, Henry, & Son, Wholesale Grocers, - - - - - 73 

Smith, A. E., «& Bro., Wholesale Dealers in Tobacco, - - - - 89 



SAVANNAH HER 



Solomons & Co., Drugs and Medicines, - - - - - - 90 

Sternberg, M. , Diamonds, Watches, etc., . . . . _ 104 

Silva, Jas. S. , Crockery, Glass, Lamps, etc., ----- 105 

Sullivan, John, & Co., Insurance and Real Estate, - - - - 119 

Screven House — Geo. W. Sergent, Proprietor, ----- 123 

Strauss & Co., Cotton and Commission, ------ 125 

Schreiner, Herman L., Book, Music and Toy House, - - - - 130 

Sanders, H., Wholesale Dealer in Lager Beer, etc., - - . - 132 

Southern Express Company — Supt., D. F. Jack; Local Agent, F. L. Cooper, - 133 

The Commerce of Savannah, - - - - - - -28 

The Jobbing Trade of Savannah, - - - - - - 38 

The Retail Trade of Savannah, with View of City in 1884, - - - 44 

Thompson, Jo C, Wholesale and Retail Groceries, - - - - 84 

Teeple, J. W., Cotton Ginner, etc., - - - - - - 87 

Tatem, Robert H., Retail Druggist, ------ 133 

Vogel, Louis, Importer Cigars and Tobacco, - - - - - 93 

Winn, A. A., Cotton Factor, -------99 

Weed & Cornwell, Hardware and Coffee, - - - - - 105 

Weld & Hartshorne, Commission and Cotton Merchants, - - - 110 

Williams, J. P., Naval Stores and Cotton, - - - - - 112 

West, A. M. & C. W., Wholesale and Retail Grocers, - - - - 113 

West, Thomas, Wholesale and Retail Crockery, - - - - - 121 

Walker, Robert D., Monuments, Mantels, etc., - - - - 129 

Weisbein, David, & Co., Dry Goods, etc., - - - - - 140 

Woodbridge & Harriman, Cotton P'actors and General Commission, - - 142 

Wylly, F. C, Stocks, Bonds and Real Estate, - - - - - 144 



COMMEECIAL PRINTINQ CO., 

ST. LOUIS, MO. 

Firms having large printing Drders tn give Dut will da well 
tD Dhtain EstimatE nf cost frnni atnvE firm. 

CarrEspandencE promptly ans'w^ErEdi 

J. H. CHAMBERS, President. 

l'.T.'^'^.%'^°;J::T^■ Commercial Printing Company. 



SAVANNAH: 

Her Trade, Commerce and Industries. 



INTRODUCTORY — COMMEECE. 

"Commerce is King." — Carlyle. 

COMMERCE, perhaps by derivation, simply means exchange. Hence Milton 
speaks of "looks commercing with the skies." It is more usually taken to 
mean an exchange of movable articles, and implies mutual benefit to the 
actors. Money is the common representative of value, is its ordinary medium, 
though with barbarous nations the exchange is ordinarily direct, or barter. It 
is foreign or domestic. Trade is usually employed with the same meaning, 
though it is also applicable to the home or retail dealings of the shopkeeper. 
Commerce or trade, in its more extensive sense, supposes travel, a conveyance of 
merchandise, or the subject of exchange, and the subject of exchange is the 
market. 

A disposition to commerce is implanted in humanity, and, like a thirst for 
ornament, distinguishes men from brutes. Man possesses, indeed, far nobler 
characteristics, but, in an age when philosophers gravely seek to show that man 
is not an immediate creation of the divinity, but a slowly-evolved improve- 
ment of the brute, it will be well to allude to one of the most remarkable of 
the many minor traits of our nature which is not inherent in any other of 
Grod's terrestrial creatures, and is common to all the varieties of our race. We 
are not aware of any tribe, however imbruted, from the root-digger of the 
Rocky Mountains to the men of the interior of Africa, who have, or are sup- 
posed to have, tails a foot long, who have not a propensity to exchange or trade. 

Commerce, like war, springs from a desire of acquisition; but, unlike war, 
it is consonant with the divine law of love. Like mercy, it is " twice blessed, 
it blesseth him that gives and him that takes." It gives birth to invention, 
stimulates production, entices laggards to labor, and confirms halting industr}-. 
Man finds happiness in labor, and he labors to produce materials for the acquisi- 
tion, by exchange, of things which he desires, but which nature denies him, 
and he cannot produce. Imagine, if you can, a world whose people do not 
interchange goods with each other. Each man would be for himself, and his 
hand would be against every other man. There, indeed, would man be identi- 
cal with the brute — isolated, unintelligent and predatious. Such a condition of 
humanity is impossible. 

Indeed, from the earliest times men have traded with each other. We have 
only to recur to the most ancient and holiest of all books for examples of the 



10 SAVANNAH HER 



immediate development of this instinct of humanity. It is so lucid, so per- 
fectly free from the monstrous fictions and palpable absurdities which disgrace 
the earliest productions of profane history, and so consistent with scientific 
truth; and then its historic truth is so corroborated by the internal evidences of 
its divine origin, its God is so God-like, its ethics are so divine, so perfect, so 
expansive, adapted to and covering man in every age, in every clime, whatever 
his pursuits or intellectual attainments — that we cannot but feel that there, and 
there only, is embalmed the true history of our race. 

In paradise, Adam dressed the garden and subsisted on its fruits. Light 
was his labor, if it were aught beyond mere exercise, but when he was driven 
forth, it was to ''till the ground, from which he was taken; " and he was con- 
demned ''in the sweat of his face to eat^bread." Diversity of employment was 
manifested so soon as the first-born of Eve began to toil. "Abel was a keeper 
of sheep; but Cain was a tiller of the soil," And with them, probably, com- 
menced the first interchange of the fruits of labor. But these primitive pur- 
suits were soon diversified; and in the seventh generation from Adam, Jabal 
'' was the father of such as dwell in tents and have cattle;" Jubal '* was the 
father of all such as handle the harp and organ;" and Tubalcain was " an 
instructor in every artificer in brass and iron," Here, in this early age of the 
world, we have proof that the earth was tenanted by the stationary cultivator of 
the soil, by the shepherd, by the wandering dweller in tents, whose wealth was 
in his herds, by the smith whose work was in brass and in iron, by men who 
could construct, and by men who could draw music from the harp and from the 
organ, !Such a diversity of employments could exist only in a trading world. 
The construction of the ark before, and the tower of Babel after, the deluge are 
alike cogent proofs of the existence of a systematic division of labor, and of 
the exchange of its products. Job declares of wisdom, "it cannot be gotten 
for gold , neither shall silver be weighed for the price thereof. It cannot be 
valued with the gold of Ophir, with the precious onyx, nor the sapphire. The 
gold and the crystal cannot equal it; and the exchange of it shall not be for 
jewels of fine gold." 

But Job lived long before Abraham, and his allusions to the gold of Ophir 
would seem to favor the idea that even in his day caravans traversed, for the 
purpose of trade, the deserts of Eastern Asia to its southern coast. If Ophir 
was, as some have supi)osed, the island of Ceylon, then navigation had become 
already an aid to commerce. In the history of Joseph we have a direct proof 
of a land trade carried on, through the slow, unwearj'ing ships of the desert, 
by the indomitable race which sprang from Ilagar. Joseph was drawn forth 
from the pit into which his brothers had cast him, and was sold for twenty 
pieces of silver to a company of Ishmaelites, who "came from Gilead with their 
camels, bearing spicery and balm and myrrh, going to carry it down to Egypt;" 
and " Potiphar, an officer of Pharoah, captain of the guai-d, an Egyptian, 
bought him of the hands of the Ishmaelites, who had brought him down to 
Egypt," 

AVe cannot comprehend the philosophy which pronounces money the root 



TRADE, COMMERCE AND INDUSTRIES. H 



of all evil. The love of acquisition is an instinct implanted by divinity, and, 
though it may be perverted, is the animating principle of the world. It is the 
great incentive to industry, to commerce and to intercourse. Truly did the 
poet designate it as " auri sacra fames^ The Creator fosters it by the differ- 
ences of climate which he has impressed upon the earth, and by scattering the 
infinite variety of goods which all men crave the wide world through. May we 
not reverently say that his penal visitations — war, pestilence and famine — have 
in them an element of mercy, and were designed to elicit sympathy and favor 
intercourse, as well as to chastise stiff-necked and rebellious nations. Famine 
drove the inhabitants of Canaan to Egypt to purchase corn and re-united the 
family of Jacob. 

It was the sacred thirst for gold which awoke the spirit of discovery, and 
induced the Tyrian to tempt in his frail bark the dangers of the middle and 
southern seas. It sent the fleets of Solomon and of Hiram from Tarshish unto 
Ophir, and they brought back gold and silver, ivory and apes, and peacocks, 
and great plenty of almug trees, and precious stones. This emboldened the 
Carthaginians to pass the Pillars of Hercules, and brave the terrors of the broad 
Atlantic; made dimly known to the Roman his Ultima Thule; carried De- 
Gama round the stormy Cape of Good Hope into the Indian Seas; sustained 
Columbus on his dreary way across the wide Atlantic to this New World; 
and sent Cook forth to circumnavigate the globe. 

We do not mean that the heroic actors in these great achievements were 
impelled by the vulgar thirst for gold. An exalted ambition, a pure love of 
glory, and the humble hope of extending the benefits of religion and the domin- 
ions of the church, may have been their chief incentives; but, as far-seeing 
men, they looked to the renown which the augmented commerce of their coun- 
tries would bring with it. Commerce sustained is power. . But for commerce 
few would be the keels that would part the blue billows of the ocean; and navi- 
gation would be but the means of rapine for new sea-kings — men full of cruel 
lusts, mad for battle, and drinking mead from the skulls of their slain foes. 
Now, in this age, when commerce so intertwines the interests of the chief 
nations of the world that war seems madness, who, apart from trade, would 
imperil himself on the still mysterious sea, save to extend it, or to guard its 
safety? No expense or danger is too great to prevent strict search for a rock or 
shoal, suspected to exist in or near the track of trade — that its position may be 
ascertained and marked upon the charts. But no one ever gained or sought 
fame by the mere discovery of lands uninviting to the merchant, and useless 
as auxiliaries to commerce, save where the discovery put limits to desperate 
exploration, as in the case of the Antarctic Continent and the impracticable 
Northwest passage. Start but a rumor that a group of rocks, capped with 
guano, has been dimly seen somewhere in the midst of the Atlantic, and in 
not many months navies will be crossing and recrossing it in all directions. 

Commerce brings wealth and power. It may not bring freedom, and may 
carry chains and degradation to subjected countries. But it heightens luxury, 
fosters the fine arts, embellishes great cities, and makes a nation strong. For 



12 SAVAXX\H HER 



centuries small nations, as monopolists of the trade of the East Indies, assumed 
and were able to maintain a commanding attitude in Europe. Witness Venice, 
Genoa and Holland. iSTow, but for its commerce and dependencies, enabling it 
to disperse its manufactures the world over, Great liritain could not rank as a 
first-rate power of Europe. AVhat well-directed industry, aided by policy, has 
gained, maj perchance be hazarded and lost in a daring but injudicious war. 
Commerce should court peace ; for when it allies itself to conquest it embraces 
danger. Better far is it for a great country that another land should be a free 
and friendly ally than a doubtful dependency. Commerce will draw far more 
riches from a vigorous nation than from a curbed and feeble colony. The trade 
of one year with Great Britain is of more service to her than would have been 
a twenty years' monopoly of the trade of what the thirteen colonies would now 
be, liad they remained subject to the British crown. 

From the very outset we have been a commercial people ; and. Heaven 
favoring us, we must, with our two ocean fronts and our vast country and 
energetic population, furnish the most wondrous spectacle of commercial 
growth and strength the world ever witnessed, provided we cultivate and main- 
tain amity with the outer world and break not ourselves asunder. The writer 
does not think that we are (as were the feet of the great image Daniel saw) 
compounded of iron and clay, and does not wish to be understood as under- 
valuing agriculture, manufactures, or the arts. Without them there can be, in 
this age, no commerce. They all act in unison to create prosperity. They 
must co-exist or languish. Commerce is the creature and stimulant of industry 
in all its forms. Never again will the world see the time when a nation can 
make itself the sole mart of particular commodities, and grow rich from a 
monopoly of silks and spices. In substance, trade is now free to general com- 
petition ; though, in detail, it is, whether wisely or unwisely, hampered by im- 
posts and subject to exaction. It is the strongest and most beneficent where 
freest. It is not a ferocious animal which must be muzzled and chained down 
to labor, but a strong implanted impulse wliich will break forth, and needs but 
the regulation of justice and humanity to exert the happiest influence on the 
whole family of man. 

Much of our present greatness and future hopes we owe to the energizing 
spirit of Commerce. It has prompted to negotiations, and sustained our goyern- 
ment in struggles which have expanded our country to its present amplitude. 
It acquired the debouchure of the Mississippi ; it carried the flag of our Union 
across the Eocky Mountains, and planted it at the mouth of the Columbia, and 
upon the golden hills of California. It must preserve what it has acquired, for 
we liave, and can have, no other assured hope of continued union. Heaven has, 
so far, bidden discovery and enterprise to keep pace with and consolidate our 
growth. The canal, the railroad, the application of steam to ocean navigation, 
and the magnetic telegraph and telephone, will suffice to hold intact the holy 
bond of union. 

We trust our readers will pardon the introduction of matter not strictly 
local, but which we think has a bearing on the future great possibilities of 



TRADE, COMMERCE AND INDUSTRIES. 13 

Savannah. The future of this city is in the hands of the men who control her 
commerce. Her merchants are those to whom the world look to carry out the 
wonderful possibilities of this city. We predict a bright future for Savannah, 
but we depend on her men of commerce to verify that prediction, for a realiza- 
tion of the fact. 

The commerce of all States and cities may be generally traced to the same 
natural and never-failing causes — local adaptation, enterprise and industry, the 
sure agents of prosperous trade. Where these concomitants unite, and where 
this union is untrammelled by arbitrary enactments, on the one hand, and un- 
fettered by the over-fostering care of a too wise government on the other, there 
commerce flourishes best, and wealth pours in with an open and ready hand. 
An attentive observer of events within his own time, and a careful reader of 
the past, will not fail to perceive that all attempts to restrain commerce within 
certain and specific channels have been destructive to the very interests they 
have sought to cherish. All monopolies — be they chartered associations, or the 
avaricious and over-reaching acts of an intermeddling government — have com- 
monly terminated in the ruin of trade and the failure of its grasping partici- 
pants. The policy of all protective and prohibitory laws in relation to trade 
may very well be doubted. Wholesome and judicious enactments for the pro- 
tection of the honest and the correction of the unscrupulous are certainly 
desirable, and such come not within the pale of our general objections. 

ANCIENT SAY ANN AIL 

The first settlement of Savannah was made in the month of February, 
1733, by General Oglethorpe and some thirty families. On the 7th of July 
following, the settlers assembled on the strand (the bay) for the purpose of 
designating the lots. In a devotional service they united in thanksgiving to 
God, "that the lines had fallen to them in a pleasant place, and that they were 
about to have a good heritage." The wards and ti things were then named, each 
ward consisting of four tithings, and each tithing of ten houses, and a house 
and lot was given to each freeholder. 

After a dinner provided by the governor, the grant of a court of record was 
read, and the officers were appointed. The session of the magistrates was then 
held, a jury empaneled, and a case tried. This jury was the first empaneled in 
Georgia. 

The town was governed by three bailiffs, and had a recorder, register, and 
a town court, holden every six weeks, where all matters, civil and criminal, 
were decided by grand and petit juries, as in England. No lawyers were 
allowed to plead for hire, nor attorneys to take money, but (as in old times in 
England) each man could plead his own cause. 

In October, 1741, the government of the colony was changed from bailiffs 
to trustees. 

In 1750, the number of white persons in Georgia was computed at about 
fifteen hundred. 



14 



SAVANNAH HER 



The first royal governor of Georgia, John Reynolds, Esq.. arrived in 
Savannah in October, 1754. 

The first printing press was established in 1763, and the Georgia Gazette 
printed on the 7th April of tliat year. 

Robt. Bolton, Esq., the 
first postmaster of Savan- 
nah, was appointed in 17- 
64, by Benjamin Barron, 
Esq., postmaster - general 
of the southern district of 
America. 

In 1766, the city con- 
sisted ol 400 dwelling- 
houses, a church, an in- 
dependent meeting house, 
a council house, a court 
house and. a filature. 

In 1770, the city exten- 
ded on the west to what 
is now Jefi'erson Street, 
on the east to what is 
now Lincoln Street, and 
on the south to what is 
now South Broad Street, 
and contained six squares 
and twelve streets, besides 
the bay. 

The first attack by the 
British on Savannah was 
made on the 3d March, 
1776. It ended in the 
discomfiture of the regu- 
lars, under Majors Mait- 
land and Grant. 

On the 29th of Decem- 
ber, 1778, Savannah was 
taken by the British. In October, 1779, an unsuccessful attempt was inade by 
the French and American armies to recapture Savannah from the British. 
Count D'Estaing and General Lincoln were the commanders. Six hundred and 
thirt^'-seven of the French, and two hundred and forty-one of the continentals 
and militia, were killed and wounded. In this attack Pulaski fell. The spot 
where he was shot is about one hundred rods from the present depot of the 
Central Railroad. 

On the 11th of July, 1783, Savannah was formally given up by the British 
to the Americans, and Colonel James Jackson (afterwards Q-overnor Jackson) 




TRADE, COMMERCE AND INDUSTRIES. 15 

was selected by General Wayne to receive the surrender of the same from the 
British commander. Colonel Jackson commanded the Georgia Legion, consist- 
ing of horse and infantry, and on the same day he received from the British 
commander the keys and took possessioci of the city. 

The first session of the Legislature of the State was held in Savannah 
in January, 1784, in the brick house now standing in South Broad Street, 
between Drayton and Abercorn Streets. This building was afterwards occupied 
as a public house, and long known as " Eppinger's Ball Room." It is the oldest 
brick house in Savannah. Dr. Lyman Hall was then Governor. 

In December, 1789, a law was passed by the Legislature making Savannah 
a city. 

The first mayor (elected in 1790) was John Houstoun. 

In November, 1796, the first destructive fire occurred in Savannah. It 
broke out in a bakehouse in market square, and destroj'cd 229 houses, besides 
out-houses, etc. Estimated loss of property, one million of dollars. 

In May, 1814, arrived in the waters of Savannah the United States sloop of 
war Peacock, Lewis Warrington commander, afterwards Commodore Warring- 
ton, bringing in as a prize 11. B. M. brig of war Epervier, Captain Wales, of IS 
guns. The Epervier had on board $110,000 in specie, which was condemned 
and distributed according to law. She was built in 1812 and was one of the 
finest vessels of her class in the British Navy. 

In April, 1819, arrived the steamship Savannah from New York. This 
steamer was projected and owned in Savannah, and was the first steamship built 
in the United States, and the first that ever crossed the Atlantic. She left 
Savannah in May for Liverpool, and afterwards proceeded to St. Petersburg. 

In January, 1820, occurred the largest fire which ever ravaged the city. It 
commenced on the east side of Old Franklin Ward. Four hundred and sixty- 
three buildings were destroyed, besides out-buildings. Loss, upwards of 
$4,000,000. 

At this juncture in our labors, propriety for the object in view suggests 
that we briefly mention only a few additional historical facts in regard to the 
city. In a commercial sense these include the monetary troubles, incident to 
the disasters of the war of 1815, the bankruptcies of 1837, the monetary troubles 
of 1842, the national panic of 1857, and the general trouble following upon the 
unhappy civil war of 1860-65. And yet from the outbreak of the war up to the 
restoration of commerce, say in 1867-68, facts indicate clearly that although in 
each decade depressing periods of business and stagnations of commerce, similar 
to those of 1873-4 5, have occurred, the city as a whole has continued to increase 
its population and consequently its business, however individuals may have, in 
the crash and wreck of private fortunes and undivided interests, sunk and been 
forgotten. 

Therefore, we may say the past of this city has been well cared for ; its 
historical records are preserved in its own and the records of our country; the 
fame of its great men will survive "fresh in eternal youth" long after the humble 
historian has been forgotton. As a Neophyte in Archaeology, one may well 



16 SAVANNAH HER 



then despair of success, and devote attention to the actual and The Present 
of our city, wliicli, sustained by energy, backed by capital, stimulated with 
fortitude by virtue of success, presents with its material progress, its advances 
in commerce and manufactures, its maritime interests, its internal navigation by 
river and rail, its industrial features, its telegraphy, telephones, electric lights, 
its enlightened press, its metropolitan advancements in every particular, themes 
sufficiently comprehensive and voluminous, and to wliicli we invite the closest 
attention, and in which we promise faithful account of its magnitude and 
development. In this respect we may truthfully say, 

RETROSPECTIVELY' AND PROSPECTIVELY, 

Rich land I Xoble history ! A land so fertile God seemed to have pro- 
nounced upon it His sweetest benediction, A climate so mildly tempered 
"the mock-bird has no winter in his song, no sorrow in his year." A soil so 
generous it gave ample competence to all who came, and atibrded ability to 
indulge not only in those pursuits which tended to satisfy animal wants and 
desires, but softened into poetry the selfish passions, improved the moral and 
intellectual character, and gave leisure for liberal studies and pursuits. Thus 
with that tranquility and leisure afforded by the enjoyment of accumulated 
riches, those sj^eculative and elegant studies which enlarge views, purify tastes, 
and lift mankind higher in the scale of being were succesi^fuUy prosecuted, and 
thus do we account for the illustrious names Savannah has furnished to the 
world — in law, in medicine, in divinity, in judicature, in commerce, in military 
science and literary accomplishments — names that enrich not only the bio- 
graphical wealth of the city, but have been enrolled among the noinina clara of 
the Republic. 

It should be an accepted fact, therefore, that the barbarism or relinement 
of a people — whether national or municipal, depends more on their wealth than 
on any other circumstance. No people have ever made any distinguished figure 
in philosophy or the fine arts without being celebrated at the same time for their 
employed riches and industries. Pericles and Phidias, Petrarch and lta])hael, 
adorned the flourishing ages of Grecian and Italian commerce. The influence 
of productive wealth in this respect is almost omnipotent. It raised Venice 
from the bosom of the deep, and made the desert and sandy islands on which she 
is built the powerful "Queen of the Adriatic." It rendered the unhealthy swamps 
of Holland the favored abodes of literature, science and art, and it has done as 
much, will do vastly more, for Savannah, the Forest City of the South. 

"While it is true there are a few, even of our best informed citizens, wjio are 
skeptical as tn the continuance of this magnificent prosperity, and are ever- 
more on the l(K)kout for sudden and fatal checks to the citv's trade and enlar^- 
j ment, it is equally as true they fail to notice fully either what has already 
I been accomi)lished, or the unlimited resources about us yet undeveloped, but 
certainly to be drawn upon, in the grander coiKjuests of the not distant fnture. 
Let us, therefore, be candid with all such, and assert without fear of successful 
contradiction, that the very best assurance of the continued healthful progress ^ 



TRADE, COMMERCE AND INDUSTRIES. 17 



of Savannah is found in what she is to day, a centre of enormous trade, in spite 
of some of the most unfavorable surroundings and drawbacks that ever beset a 
citv, more perhaps the creature of the necessities — the inexorable demands of the 
position— \\\?i\\ anj American city that has ever struggled for eminence; and yet 
the forces that have thus successfully built up the city are far from being ex- 
hausted or even fully comprehended. Humanly speaking, then, there is no 
power on earth that can prevent Savannah from becoming a vast commercial 
city. It wnll grow in wealth and power, in industry and influence, in spite of 
itself— in spite even of the bad fame she has abroad on account of climate. 
The demands of commerce, like the demands of necessity, know no law, admit 
no obstacles, overcome all barriers. Back of the city to North, to East, to 
West lies a vast empire of productive wealth with many millions of people, all 
of whom, in a manner, are ministering to its traflic and wealth. 

In truth, the view is propitious from every stand-point. The city is in a 
condition of vastly improved sanity and health, and has commenced— nay, is 
far upon the road in a brilliant career of improvement. The motives of social 
and political freedom, fertility of soil, salubrity of climate, wealth of agricul- 
tural resources, facilities for commerce and manufactures, and ease of river and 
railroad transportation, are the material advantages which invite capitalists, 
tradesmen and manufacturers of every clime and nationality to a home in our 
midst; to a co-operation in the development of its measureless possibilities, and 
to an enriching ])articipation in its prosperity. A live, intelligent and en- 
terprising people, now fully aroused to all the recjuirements of the age, have 
possession of her multifarious labors, and the day is now at hand when many a 
stately ediflce is musical with clanging machinery and those sounds of diversi- 
fied industry that quickens the pulse of a nation and prolongs the life of a Re- 
public; while her possibilities, thus foreshadowed, dazzle the mind by their 
variety and magnitude, and leave the calmest and most unimpassioned observer 
quite bewildered in the prospect for this magnificent metropolis of the South. 

THE COMMERCIAL HISTORY OF SAVANNAH. 

Savannah is the natural emporium of all the vast tracts traversed by the 
Savannah River and its tributary streams, and enjoys a greater command of 
internal navigation than any other city in the State. Even many years prior to 
the late civil war it was the grand entrepot of the States of Georgia, Florida 
and a large portion of South Carolina, and for many years was regarded as 
almost without a rival. Up to 1860, civilization had struck its roots, and began 
to flourish only in some comparatively small portions of the immense territories 
of which Savannah is the sea port, and yet its progress was rapid beyond all 
precedent. 

While Savannah, even from her inception, has been regarded as an impor- 
tant commercial point, her true commercial history may be dated from 1822. 
It appears from the accounts printed by order of Congress that the receipts and 
exports of cotton and rice at the port of Savannah for the year 1822-3 amounted 
to the following figures: Receipts of cotton, 105,261 bales; of rice, 11,232 tierces. 



18 SAVANNAH HER 



"With frequent variations but always on the increase these figures had grown 
until 1843, and for the commercial year of 1843 Savannah exported 285,754 
bales of cotton; 25,032 tierces of rice; 7,500,000 feet of pitch pine lumber; 
5,175,000 cypress shingles; 66,000 oak staves. The direct foreign import for 
the same period amounted to only $279,896, but as a great proportion of the 
articles of foreign import consumed in, and transmitted through Savannah, 
arrived coastwise from New York and other northern cities it is dilhcult to form 
a calculation from any very certain data what were the actual value of the ag- 
gregate direct and indirect foreign imports of Savannah at that time, blended as 
the latter were with the coastwise imports during the period of which we have been 
speaking, viz.: 1843. The registered licensed and enrolled tonnage of the port 
of Savannah amounted to 17,920 tons, but the total amount of all tonnage fre- 
quenting the port at this early date cannot be readily arrived at, since most of 
the vessels which were engaged in the coasting trade sailed under licenses which 
exempted them from entry or clearance at the Custom House at Savannah, ex- 
cept where they had foreign goods on board. 

From the first of October, 1844. to the first of October, 1846, there entered 
coastwise the port of Savannah 719 vessels, comprising an aggregate tonnage 
of 196,791, and during the same period from foreign ports 26,612 tons of 
American shipping, and 78,476 tons of foreign, by which enumeration a curious 
fact is brought to light, namely, that the foreign carriers of our own products out- 
numbered the native in the ratio of three to one. The total amount of tonnage 
of all descriptions entered at the Custom House of Savannah during the two 
years last named was 105,089, and the total amount cleared for the same period 
was 133,915, the difference between these two sums arising in part from vessels 
remaining over in port at the commencement of the year, and in part from 
vessels arriving coastwise with license, taking foreign freights and exchanging 
their licenses for registers, and thereby in clearing obtaining a record on the 
Custom House books. 

In 1847, Savannah began to feel the effect of the internal facilities of trans- 
port. The Central Railroad had been finished and put in successful operation, 
and many were the predictions made by the people of Savannah. Gen. Bernard, 
who, after carefully examining and weighing all the local advantages of the city, 
exclaimed, " Savannah is destined to become the New York of the South." 

The exports for the month of February, 1847, exceeded those of the same 
month the year previous by $839,477.75. For the month of January, 1846, the 
exports amounted to $262,124.52, while for the same month in 1847 they 
amounted to $1,038,954.41, an increase of $776,829.89 in the one month of 
January, and a total increase in the first two months of 1847 of $1,616,307.14. 

We have thus hastily and briefly, and we grant imperfectly, sketched some 
of the leading incidents in the history of Savannah, more especially for the pur- 
pose of referring to facts illustrative of her past progress. At the same time, 
by no means claiming to be the historian of the place, and trenching in no part 
upon ground that properly belongs to the domain of biography, or personal 
laudation, or flattering testimonials as to " leading citizens " or " representative 



TRADE, COMMERCE AND INDUSTRIES. 19 

men," we have sought only to balance all drafts npon the past by the marvel- 
lously increased value of the present, demonstrating the philosophy of political 
economy in presentation of cause by the grander illustration of effect. 

And for this good and sufficient reason a more extended account would be 
without the scope of this work, besides stretching it beyond the limits to which 
it was originally intended and necessarily assigned. Besides, our own citizens 
hardly need such remembrances as these to impress them with full confidence in 
the upward and onward progress of a city of which they know so well they have 
reason to be proud. Strangers, however — those who know Savannah only by 
name, we may say — whose ambition and desire may be to know somewhat of 
the Southern metropolis, whose faces are set southward with a view to the 
permanent establishment of their homes, may be interested, even by the imper- 
fect report made by us, to stimulate further inquiry on their part. Such an 
inquiry will disclose a thousand additional facts to strengthen the conviction 
that Savannah has a rightful claim to the prominence which her friends assign 
to her. What forbids the realization of their most enthusiastic predictions as 
to its future growth and greatness? 

Briefly, the situation is this : Here stands a city, already with nearly a 
hundred thousand population; with a natural highway of travel which reaches 
nearly one half of the States of the Union, besides her railways, which connect 
with the network of similar roads stretching to every quarter of the civilized 
part of the continent. What shall prevent an aggregation here of inhabitants 
beyond anything of which we to-day may dream? Thousands after thousands, 
until there shall have sprung up here a city containing hundreds of square 
miles — taking in the outlying counties on both sides of the river, with an area 
even then affording but reasonable accommodations for the vast multitudes col- 
lected within it. Of course, such visions relate to the future; but that future, 
amidst the growth of such a nation as ours, cannot be long postponed. Mean- 
while the present generation will witness a progress with which it may well be 
content. That progress, it is true, will depend much upon the energy and the 
enterprise of our citizens. Yet we fully rely on the belief that the people of 
Savannah will be true to their city and themselves, and it may be no idle dream 
which conceives for Savannah the most exalted destiny, which, with a just pro- 
phetic forecast, transforms the humble colony of Oglethorpe into the future 
Metropolis of the South. 

RESOUKCES OF SAVANNAH. 

The State of Georgia is rich in minerals, rich in agriculture, and rich in 
forests, which abound the State over. Nature, which is only a name for Prov- 
idence working in disguise upon the plane of ultimate effects, having thus laid 
up such an abundance and variety of materials for subsistence, let us see where- 
abouts upon the earth's surface our lot has fallen. Unrolling the map of the world, 
we find the people of Georgia holding possession of about 58,000 square miles of 
its surface, lying very nearly square between the parallels of 32° and 35° North 
latitude. Moving the finger along these parallels eastward we find them embrac- 



20 SAVAXKAH HER 



iiiof and traversing Palestine, the ancient Canaan, that "Glory of all lands;" 
Persia, as it was when its twelve tribes lirst lifted spears to follow the great 
Cyrus over Asia; and Mesopotamian China. Owing to its peculiar physical 
conformation it enjoys every diversity of temperate climate. If the orange 
blossoms in her south, the people of the mountain lands of Georgia sleep under 
blankets in August. Isothermally the State is also related to Italy and Greece. 
From the torrid Atlantic and Pacific belts heavy laden winds, arrested by the 
forests of the plain, by the hills and mountains that guard our western frontier, 
precipitate their moisture in abundant rains to irrigate a soil where there is no 
waste land, and re])lenish the innumerable streams. 

It would be a reasonable inference that a soil so rich and various, supplied 
with abundant moisture, under a range of the most auspicious and delicious 
climates with which a beneficent Providence ever blessed any people, would 
display a corresponding variety and richness of vegetation. While New York, 
according to published accounts, has 150 medicinal out of 1,250 species of plants, 
the riora of Georgia exhibits 3,500 species, of which over 400 belong to 
medicine. 

Of the Georgia arboretum there are al)out twenty-one varieties of oak, be- 
ginning with Quersus virens, the Live Oak, tougher in fibre and grander in 
aspect than the luitive oak of our Mother England. 

For building, upholstery and all mechanical and economical woods, we may 
mention five varieties of pine, the cedar, cypress, w^alnut, hickory, chestnut, 
redberry, locust, ash, linden, poplar, birch, elm, hemlock, spruce, basswood. 
magnolia, mulberry, and other trees native to our magnificent forests. Our 
fruit trees are mostly exotics, but they come to perfection in our soil. Of these 
may be mentioned the peach, nectarine, apricot, apple, pear, plum, clierry, 
pomegranate, fig and olive. The olive, the sacred tree whose oil furnished light 
to the ancients, and food as well as unction for the consecration of kings and 
priests, and which gave the name of " Christ," i. e., "anointed," to our Lord, is 
beginning to be cultivated in our State. The preservation of fruits and vege- 
tables is a fit emploj'ment for our women. J>altimore puts up for annual sale 
forty-eight million cans of such things. 

Concerning the timber interests of Georgia a writer in a late number of the 
Southern Lumberman says: 

"It is greatly to be deplored that the unmerciful destruction of our forests 
by the turj)entine industry could not be regulated in some way so as to obtain 
the greatest value from the property. It is a fact, well known to the trade, that 
millions of acres have been totally destroyed by the turpentine business, as it 
will be impossible to reach the timber thus injured and saw it into lumber be- 
fore it becomes almost valueless for sawmill purposes. If, as soon as the 
turpentine manufacturers abandoned this timber, the sawmill men could utilize 
it, it would save millions of feet of lumber to the country, which means millions 
of dollars to the country. But this seems impossible, as men generally consider 
the }5resent and not the future. After the turpentine men abandon the timber, 
large quantities of it burn down, blow down and die before it can ever be reached 



TRADE, COMMERCE AND INDUSTRIES. 21 

by the sawmill men. Cannot some plan be adopted that will save to the 
country so much valuable timber? There is $700,000,000 worth of pine in 
Georgia at the market price, and nearly $200,000,000 in value will be destroyed 
in this way if some practical plan is not adopted by which to prevent it. Nearly 
one-third of the taxable property of Georgia to be lost ! And what can be said 
of Georgia, we think, will be the result in other Southern States. 

It is true the census claims a stumpage of about 236,000,000,000 feet of 
yellow pine in the South, with a cut of, say, 1,500,000,000 feet per year. Some 
argue that yellow pine will last, at the present rate of production, 150 years. 
Now, we believe the timber available for sawmill purposes will be cut short 
fully one-third by reason of the devastation caused by turpentine operators; 
that is to say, reduced in available stumpage suitable for manufacturing into 
lumber from 236,000,000,000 feet to about 160,000,000,000 feet. We believe the 
largest operators in lumber will grant that the business is in its infancy. Now, 
say the annual production is raised from 1,500,000,000 feet per year to 5,000,- 
000,000 feet, and thirty-two years — an average life time — would see our yellow 
pine forests a thing of the past. 

"We do not believe we are extravagant in our estimates. We will venture 
the prediction that the production of yellow pine in the South will be 5,000,- 
000,000 feet a year in from six to eight years. Lumber from the South during 
the war rose to $60 and $80 per thousand at the North. May it not reach those 
figures again in twenty-five or thirty years is an open question. We lay stress 
upon all these points, trusting that some may read, reflect and hold to their 
extremely valuable properties. Patient waiting will surely be rewarded." 

The people of the State have begun to see that the lumber interest of 
Georgia is enormous and is rapidly increasing. Many men from Minnesota 
and Michigan have invested large sums in the development of this industry, and 
are building tramroads at great expense to tap the main lines. The turpentine 
interest is becoming a very considerable one, and has spread over a large portion 
of Southern Georgia, where a great number of hands are employed. 

Agricultukal. — There is no State in the Union that possesses a more varied 
climate and a more varied soil than the State of Georgia. For instance, the 
productions of the seaboard consist mainly of rice, and latterly of truck farm- 
ing, with small areas in cotton and still smaller areas in corn. The middle belt 
of Georgia is probably more salubrious than that near the seaboard, and is more 
varied in its productions as agriculture is now being conducted. Through Mid- 
dle Georgia the products are mainly cotton and corn and smaller grains, such 
as oats, wheat, etc. The average production of corn, take the entire State over, 
last year was about 13 bushels, and the average yield of wheat was about 9 
bushels. The oat crop, which was an exceptionally fine one last year, yielded 
about 7,500,000 bushels. The cotton crop was somewhere between 800,000 and 
900,000 bales. Middle Georgia grows by far the greater portion of cotton that 
is grown in the limits of this State. It is par excellence the cotton-growing 
section of the State. The lands are somewhat thin, and for that reason the 
planters have had resort to fertilizers, which are used to an extent of about 



22 SAVANNAH HER 



120,000 to 150,000 tons per annum. The production of cotton has risen from 
about 500,000 bales during the year just after the war to its present sum of 
900,000 bales. 

In order to show how the agricultural resources of the State have been 
developed the following figures are giv^en: In 1870 there were produced 
17,646,459 bushels of Indian corn; in 1880, 23,190,472; in 1870, 11,127,017 
bushels of wheat, and in 1880, 23,158,335; in 1870, 1,904,601 bushels of oats, 
and in 1880, 5,544,161; in 1870, 5,640 bushels of barley, and in 1880, 19,396; 
in 1870, 82,549 bushels of rye, and in 1880, 101,759; in 1870, 402 bushels of 
buckwheat, and in 1880, 2,439. Nearly all the fruits and vegetables are grown 
to tine perfection in some sections of the State, and a great industry of ship- 
ping them to Northern markets is springing up. 

MiNEKALS. — Through the State, coal, iron, copper, gold, slate, and marbles 
of all colors are found in the greatest abundance, and are being worked to a large 
extent. The marble through the State is so bountiful that in some sections the 
ballast and culverts of the railroads are made out of the finest kind. Manga- 
nese has also been recently discovered. There is a great development of the 
coal interests, as well as of the iron. The coal mining is being enormously 
developed; improved machinery is being brought into the State, and large sums 
are being invested by capitalists of our own State and abroad. 

From this cursory examination of our natural resources, we may safely 
affirm that Georgia is one of the finest countries on our globe, taking into con- 
sideration its geographical position, climate, soil, mineral productions, water- 
power, means of inland transportation, and foreign commerce, its health and 
rare beauty. 

SAVANNAH STEAMSHIP INTERESTS. 

There are numerous persons, ''native here and to the manner burn," who 
will remember when our steamship squadron was, in number of vessels and 
carrying capacity, almost entirely eclipsed by the sailing fleet that for miles 
lined our wharves, three and four tiers deep. Such is no longer strictly the 
case. Here, as at other leading seaports, the steamship has steadily encroached 
on the domain of the sailing vessel, and still the change goes on. The sailing 
vessels will perhaps always be seen on the seas, but the sword has indeed 
departed from Judah, it will no longer eclipse the steamer, and therefore a 
sketch of the regular steamship lines to and from Savannah will be apropos: 

OCKAN STKAMSHII' CO. 

Beginning with the Ocean Steamship Company, we find that this com[)any 
has two regular Tines of steamers connecting Savannah with New York and 
Philadelphia. The number of steamers in the trade is six, viz: City of Augusta, 
Chatahoochee, Nacoohee, Tallahassee, Juniata, and Cit}' of Savannah. The man- 
agers report a satisfactory increase in the business for the year just passed, over 
that of the previous year, and Savannah, which is the southern termini of these 
lines, is directly interested in their freight and passenger business to the extent 
of about 90 per cent. Every new railroad that comes from the interior to a sea- 
port necessarily calls for an increase in ocean transportation. 



TRADE, COMMERCE AND INDUSTRIES. 23 

BOSTON AND SAVANNAH STEAMSHIP CO. 

There is a regular line of steamships between this city and Boston. The 
vessels are first-class iron steamships and are fitted up in a most luxurious man- 
ner for the comfort and convenience of passengers, and to this part of their 
business they pay the strictest attention. During the winter months the arri- 
val of every steamer of this line from Boston brings to this summerland num- 
bers of people who are unable, or rather unwilling, to stand the excessive cold of 
the Kew England winters. The wharves in this city are connected with the rail- 
roads, and very little hauling is necessary. Besides their magnificent passenger 
business, they do a large freightage business in cotton and naval stores for the 
]S^ew England manufactories. The vessels plying in the trade are the Gate City 
and the City of Macon. We learn, however, that the company propose soon to 
put on another fast and first-class iron steamer. 

MERCHANTS AND MINERS TRANS. CO. 

The trade between Savannah and Baltimore is quite extensive, and is car- 
ried on by the above company with their large iron steamers, viz.: Wm. Crane, 
Johns Hopkins, and Wm. Lawrence, which sail from Savannah semi-weekly, 
and do both a freight and passenger business, and are represented by an agent 
in this city. 

SEA ISLAND ROUTE. 

The steamer city of Bridgeton makes regular semi-weekly trips to Fer- 
nandina, where connections are made with the railroads to Jacksonville and 
other points in Florida. 

AUGUSTA AND SAVANNAH STEAMER. 

There is only one boat now running between this city and Augusta on the 
Savannah river. One trip is made each week. Considerable business is done 
in carrying cotton from the up-country to Savannah. 

The Mary Fisher makes semi-weekly trips to Cohen's Bluff" and inter- 
mediate points, 

VARIOUS TRANSIENT STEAMSHIPS. 

There can always be seen at the wharves in Savannah steamships from 
England, France and other couutries. These steamers of course are not owned 
here, but they do an immense carrying trade between Savannah and foreign 
ports. It is not an unusual sight to see ten of these vessels at one time loading 
with cotton for foreign ports, 

SAILING VESSELS. # 

To walk along the five miles of wharves in Savannah one would be sur- 
prised to see the numerous barks, brigs and schooners, with the flags of almost 
every nation on the civilized globe at their mastheads. Here are vessels from 
Norway, Sweden, Belgium, Sicily, Spain; from France, Germany, Scotland; all 
loading with our cotton and naval stores for the other side of the blue Atlantic. 
These vessels are generally chartered by some of our enterprising ship brokers, 
who drive a prosperous trade in this direction. 



24 SAVANNAH HER 



No. 


Tonnage. 


Men. 


10 


5,067 


105 


29 


11,640 


260 


246 


136,646 


3,246 


257 


163,319 


3,668 


542 


316,672 


7,279 


384 


498,642 


13,491 


346 


466,527 


12,753 


730 


965,169 


26,244 


542 


316,672 


7,279 



FOKEIGN CONSULS AND CONSULAR AGENTS AT SAVANNAH. 

The importance and wide-spread character of the foreign coniH)erce of 
Savannah may be ascertained in the fact that the following foreign governments 
have their consuls and consular agents here: Argentine Republic, Austria- 
Hungary, Costa liica, Chili, Denmark, France, German Empire, Great Britain, 
Italy, Netherlands, Norway and Sweden, Peru, Portugal, Russia, Spain, Switzer- 
land, United States of Columbia and Venezuela. 

TONNAGE OF TUE TORT OF SAVANNAH FROM SEl-rKMBER 1, 1882, To AUGUST 31, 1883, 

INCLUSIVE : 

American vessels entered, 
American vessels cleared, - 
Foreign vessels entered, 
Foreign vessels cleared. 

Total Foreign, . . - - 

Coastwise Entrances, - - - 

Coastwise Clearances, . - . - 

Total Coastwise, 
Total Foreign, - . 

Grand Total, - - 1,272 1,281,841 33,523 

A large number of vessels arrive and depart coastwise that are not required 
by the customs regulations to enter or clear. The above statement only includes 
those vessels in the coastwise trade that actually entered and cleared at the 
Custom House. 

SAVANNAH RAILROAD INTERESTS. 

To the railroad interests of the city the year has been of the utmost impor- 
tance, as it has marked throughout the country a period of remarkable prosperity 
to railroads in general. During almost the entire year the roads concentrating 
at this city have been taxed to their full capacity, and in some instances beyond 
their facilities, to perform the work. Both passengers and freights have greatly 
increased, especially the former, and it may be stated, without any exaggeration, 
that the railroads in which Savannah is interested have never before been in a 
more prosperous condition. Not only has there been more to do, but the 
physical condition of the property has been better than at any previous period. 
The past two years have witnessed remarkable development not only in the rail- 
roads that were then actually running into Savannah, but in those that in other 
Southern States had apparently no definite termini and formed merely a dis- 
jointed system of railways, each looking out for its own local interests. The 
great railroad manager of the age suddenly appeared in the field, and although 
he did not commence his work in this immediate section, his gigantic operations, 
whether in the North, West, the far West, or in Mexico, have all liad a direct 



TRADE, COMMERCE AKD INDUSTRIES. 25 

bearing upon Savannah. The rapid manner in which he obtained control of 
road after road, and combined them into vast but harmonious co-operative 
systems, was suddenly followed in the South by several bold railway managers; 
and the product has been the combination of numerous short and weak roads 
into long and self-sustaining trunk-lines, reaching from the Lakes to the Gulf, 
from the Mississippi to the Atlantic. The establishment of these trunk lines 
has produced a wonderful activity in railroad circles, the benefits of which to the 
South in the purchase of new material, laying new and re-laying old tracks, 
securing a host of new locomotiv^es and cars, and engaging thousands of addi- 
tional employees, have been sustained by the competition natural between such 
strong and wealthy corporations to add new lines, new territory, and new trade 
to their resources. 

GEORGIA CENTRAL RAILROAD. 

The Georgia Central Railroad is the oldest of the great lines running into 
Savannah. It is 386 miles in length. The main line of this road runs to 
Macon, 192 miles, thence by the Atlanta division to Atlanta, a distance of 103 
miles. From Milan a branch road is run to Augusta, 53 miles, and another 
branch from Gordon to Eatonton, 38 miles. Connections are made by the 
Georgia Central at Atlanta with all points in the North and Northwest, and 
this secures for Savannah a straight line to this rich country. This route lays 
open the finest and richest cotton regions of the State, and by its connections 
taps this wealthy cotton-growing district of Alabama and South Carolina. Sa- 
vannah suffered long for the want of facilities of transportation, but when this 
great line was completed, her wants were supplied for a short time. But so 
pressing and powerful was the impetus of a mighty and growing trade that she 
was compelled to cry aloud for other avenues through which to receive and ship 
her growing commerce. 

SAVANNAH, FLORIDA AND WESTERN RAILROAD. 

This road is the great highway connecting Savannah with Florida, Southern 
and Southwestern Georgia, and Eastern Alabama. It extends to Bainbridge, on 
the Flint river, a distance of 237 miles. It coimects at Albany by a branch 
road, 58 miles in length, with the central and southwestern system of roads, and 
at Live Oak with the Jacksonville, Pensacola and Mobile Railroad for middle 
Florida. Its most important branch line is the new Way Cross Short Line, re- 
cently completed to Jacksonville, 172 miles from Savannah. At Callahan, 150 
miles from Savannah, it connects with the Florida Transit and Peninsular Rail- 
road for Southern Florida and the Gulf of Mexico. At Jacksonville connection 
is made with the great artery of Florida commerce, the St. John's river, for all 
points reached by that magnificent stream. 

This road is successor to the Savannah, Albany and Gulf, and Atlantic and 
Gulf Railroads, It is enabled — by the purchase of the franchises and privileges 
of those companies, which were compelled to succumb to adverse fortunes — to 
more than realize all the anticipations which suggested the original enterprise, 
and to secure to Savannah all the advantages which prompted its citizens to first 
lend their aid to the scheme of its construction. 



26 SAVANNAH HER 



The depot grounds of this road are in the southeastern portion of the city, 
fronting on Liberty and East Broad Streets, and contain over eighty acres of land, 
well situated for the purpose and affording ample room for the future require- 
ments of the company. It is intended, at an early date, to erect a handsome and 
commodious passenger-depot on these grounds, which will prove an ornament 
to that part of the city and afford the accommodation the largely increasing 
business of the company requires. 

The wharves of this company stretch along the lower river front to the 
distance of nearly a mile. Built upon the foundation of a former rice planta- 
tion, there has grown into existence a magnificent property, capable of answer- 
ing the increased demands of commerce for many years to come. Here, for the 
year ending December 31, 1881, 31,000,000 feet of lumber and 146,000 barrels of 
naval stores were received, and 13,663 tons of commercial fertilizer were handled. 
The earth for filling in has been brought — in amount aggregating 250,000 cubic 
yards — from Bruton Hill, immediately in the rear, while the four quarters of the 
habitable globe have also contributed their quota in the discharge of ballast by 
foreign shipping. In this matter a wise forethought has kept the lead of the 
demands of business, and abundant facilities can yet be afforded as the exigencies 
of a prosperous trade will demand. 

The equipment of the new company — consisting of powerful engines and 
hundreds of freight cars, together with its perfect roadway and elegant passen- 
ger coaches — is fully adequate to the necessities of its business, while, by con- 
struction and by purchase, it is continually adding to its stock, always in 
appliances of the latest and most improved character. 

CHARLKSTON AND SAVANNAH RAILROAD. 

This road is a part of the plant system of roads, and extends from Savannah 
to Charleston, 115 miles. It is one of the finest equipped roads in the country. 
The entire road-bed is now laid with steel rails. The passenger coaches are 
exquisitely upholstered and finished throughout in a lavish and tasteful manner. 
Riding on railroads at best is a tiresome occupation, but a trip over this road is 
really a pleasure. The advantages of this road to Savannah are many. It opens 
up to the trade of Savannah a country never before tapped, and lays in her lap 
the commodities of that portion of the State through which it runs. It has a 
direct connection to the East via Yamessu. 

STREET RAILROADS. 

Of the various street railroads in Savannah it is not requisite here to speak. 
There are many of them, enough for the present demands of the city, and sufii- 
cient capital to build more when it is found necessary. 

INCREASE OF RAILROADS IN GEORGIA. 

In 1880 there were 2,197 miles of railroad in the State, and in 1882, 2,421 
miles, an increase of 224 miles. These figures include only the main tracks. 
Since 1882 a number'of miles have been added; so it is safe to say there are 
nearly 3,000 miles of railroad in the State. The various roads are as follows : 
Macon and Brunswick; Brunswick and Albany; South Carolina; Alabama 



TRADE, COMMERCE AKD INDUSTRIES. 27 

Great Southern ; Columbus and Rome; Louisville and Wadley; Eaton ton Bran cli; 
Roswell; Hartwell; Charlotte, Columbia and Augusta; Atlanta and "West 
Point; East Tennessee, Virginia and Georgia; Lawrenceville ; Elberton Air 
Line; Northeastern; Charleston and Savannah; Georgia Railroad and Banking 
Company; Georgia and Cincinnati Division E. T. Va. and Ga.; Savannah, 
Griffin and JS^orth Alabama; Central — Atlanta Division ; Central Railroad and 
Banking Company ; Perry Branch ; Columbus and Western Railroad of Ala- 
bama; Upson County; Southwestern; Gainesville and Jefferson; Atlanta and 
Charlotte; Waycross and Florida; Junction Branch; Florida Branch; South 
Georgia and Florida; Talbotton; Port Royal and Augusta; Sandersville and 
Tennille; Savannah, Florida and Western; Marietta and Korth Georgia; Rome; 
Walton County; Cherokee; Georgia Pacific. 

"The estimated value of their lands in 1882 was $242,689, of their build- 
ings $455,113, of their aggregate values $18,729,429." 

And now, with this wide-spreading comprehensive system of transporta- 
tion, together with our unsurpassed advantages of deep water navigation, to 
make tributary to our market the riches of the vast scope of country in which 
we are located, developing our own unrivaled resources, and distributing far 
and wide our products in manufactures and commerce, who can portray in 
word-picturing the grand and brilliant future in store for our beautiful city, or 
doubt that it is destined to rank prominent among the proud array of American 
cities whose towering strength makes them the marvel of the entire world? 

BANKING FACILITIES OF SAVANNAH. 

In the brief financial history of the United States, and even in the still 
briefer financial history of Savannah, many important events in the banking 
business have occurred. We have been blessed with very few good banking 
systems and cursed with very many bad ones, and while now the failure of a 
bank causes astonishment throughout the country, there have been times — those 
insecure days of the old "Wild Cat" system, for instance— when more astonish- 
ment was felt if a week passed without several failures. 

It would go beyond the purposes of this work, however, to attempt a full 
record of the disasters and successes, the collapses, failures, stampedes, panics 
and what not of the past, relieved here and there by a recital of solid foundations 
laid and substantial superstructures maintained. In general we may say, that in 
point of number the banking institutions of Savannah will compare favorably 
with other great commercial centers ; in soundness, and in the amount of busi- 
ness transacted on the capital invested, they hold high rank with any in the 
country ; and any one at all observant would naturally be struck with the extent 
of the business of this city by merely noticing the amount of capital possessed 
and the prosperity of banking institutions— for the advance of business is 
probably more accurately demonstrated by the growth of the banking interest 
than by any other one stand-erd that can be followed with equal precision. 

Although there are a large number of private banks, brokerage firms and 
others having control of a large amount of aggregated capital, the leading banks 



28 SAVANNAH HER 



of Savannah are four in number, all in sound condition, and conducting safe 
and profitable business. 

THE COMMEECE OF SAVANNAH. 

This city may claim for itself that happy medium of climate — that juste 
milien of temperature that quickens without enervating — that enjoys the 
crescive power of the tropical regions, without their noxious influence. Situat- 
ed on the thirty-second parallel of the north latitude, and eighty-one degrees 
west from Greenwich, it enjoys a winter climate which for softness and genial 
comfort is unsurpassed, if not unequaled. Its proximity to the Atlantic brings 
it within the reach of the refreshing sea-breezes, which temper the fervors of a 
summer solstice with a renovating coolness. 

Vessels of heavy draft are admitted without hindrance to her wharves. 
The water of the river at this point is still fresh and fit for alimentary purposes. 
That destructive marine insect so fatal to vessels in salt and brackish water, the 
sea-worm so called, is unknown in this river, and should it have gained a lodg- 
ment in the bottom of a vessel previous to her entrance into these waters, a very 
short time only is necessary for the fresh water to destroy them. At this point, 
also, ships take in their water at low tide for their vovasre. The Savannah river 
is navigable for the most part of the year, for steamboats of moderate draught, 
to Augusta, two hundred and fifty miles above the city of Savannah. 

Having demonstrated the many advantages, both natural and acquired, 
possessed by Savannah, as concerns geographical location, diversilied and trans- 
portation facilities for conducting to a successful issue our trade, commerce and 
industries, let us briefly examine into the condition of the various lines of the 
several departments which constitute the whole of our business. 

SAVANNAH AS A COTTON MARKET. 

Up to the year 1882, Savannah ranked next to New Orleans as a cotton port. 
That place she has now lost. The receipts of Galveston for the season just 
closed were greater than those of Savannah. The increase of Galveston's 
receipts, however, are readily explained. The increase of the cotton production 
of Texas has been immense, and last year the increase was suflicient to give 
Galveston the second place. The cotton of Texas naturally goes to Galveston, 
and the increase of the receipts of that port, therefore, does not indicate that the 
legitimate business of other ports has been interfered with. It might be well, 
however, to inquire why it was that the receipts of Savannah last season did not 
increase in proportion to the increase of the crop. The chief reason was the 
pooling system, relative to freights, adopted by the railways which transport the 
cotton of this section. The system gave Norfolk a decided advantage. Cotton 
was cari-ied to Norfolk and Newport News from Macon cheaper than it was 
brought here. The railways were, perhaps, not so much to blame for this 
discrimination against this port as the Legislature. The Legislature, by enact- 
ments, which hardly can be considered wise, prevented the railways whose 
interests are in this direction from chartering lines outside of the State, but 
gave railways outside of the State the privilege of chartering lines within the 



TRABE, COMMERCE AKD INDUSTRIES. 29 

State. The effect of these enactments has been exti-emely detrimental to our 
interests. Another thing that was against us was the understanding among 
the stevedores not to stow cotton compressed in the interior, and also the higher 
rates charged for compression. The result of this was to turn this cotton in the 
direction of Korfolk and other ports north of that point. These matters have 
been inquired into, however, and no doubt every effort will be made to correct 
them. Savannah has great natural advantages, and these of themselves will, it 
is hoped, overcome ordinary obstructions which may be placed in the way of her 
legitimate trade. The pooling system has naturally caused a falling off in the 
coastwise through freights from this port. Cotton that ought to come here for 
shipment North has, on account of this system, gone ]^orth by rail. It is also 
noticeable that there has been a falling off in our exports to England. This is 
due to the fact that our exporters have been trading direct with the mills on the 
continent. Formerly cotton used to reach these mills by way of England. 
Another reason why our foreign exports have fallen off somewhat is that buyers 
for the Northern mills are much more active than in former years. The cotton 
taken from this market last season for consumption in the New England mills 
and the mills in the South was greater in amount than in any previous season. 

RECEIPTS OF COTTON AT THE PORT OF SAVANNAH FROM SEPT. 1, 1882, TO AUG. 31, 1883 : 

Per Central Railroad, . . . - 

Per Savannah, Florida & "Western Railway, 

Per Charleston & Savannah Railway, 

Per Carts, .... 

Per Savannah River steamers. 

Per Brunswick and Satilla steamers. 

Per Florida steamers, - - - - 

From Charleston, .... 

From various sources, .... 

Total, ..... 

Stock on hand September 1, 1882, 

819,378 12,070 

The following tabulated statement gives the total exports of cotton, foreign 
and coastwise, from the port of Savannah, from Sept. 1, 1882, to Sept. 1, 1883. 

Coastwise. Upland. Sea Island. 

Charleston, _ . . - . 

Baltimore, -.-... 
Philadelphia, _ . - _ . 

New York, ..... 

Boston, . . - - . 

I Total coastwise, . - . . 

' Local mill consumption. 



Upland. 


Sea Island. 


649,255 




133,935 


10,389 


3,606 




3,181 


166 


16,678 




4,884 


59 


886 


1,378 


1,300 




322 


12 


814.047 


12,004 


5,331 


66 



2,862 


1,056 


89,023 


5,985 


17,487 


12 


211,994 


4,204 


73,292 


185 


394,658 


11,442 


2,100 







30 SAVANNAH HER 


Foreign. Upland. 


Sea Island. 


Liverpool. . . . . . 109,729 


583 


Havre, ...... 25,628 


30 


Bremen, - . - . - 109,992 




Reval, - 61,101 




Barcelona, . - _ . . 52,190 




Amsterdam, .-...- 22,479 




Cronstadt, - ... - 12,275 




Genoa, -...-. 10,374 




Hango, - . . - . 3,600 




Salerno, ...--. 2,850 




Gothenberg, - . _ - . 1,649 




Carlshamn, ...... i.ooO 




Nordkoping, ..... 1,360 




TJddervalla, ._.... 1,336 




Corunna, . . . . . 1^200 




Pasajes, - ■ - - - - - 1,190 




Bilbao, - . - - - - - 198 




Palma de Majorca, ..... 34 
Total foreign, . - . . - 418,385 




613 


Total coastwise, .... 394,658 


11,442 


Local mill consumption, - - - 2,100 




Grand total, ..... 815,143 


12,055 


Stock on hand and on shipboard August 31, 1883, - 4,235 


14 


The following are the net receipts at all United States ports for the year | 


ending August 31, 1883 : 




Galveston, ....... 


863,104 


New Orleans, .._.._ 


1,664,532 


Mobile, .-----. 


311,960 


Savannah, - - - - 


817,670 


Charleston, ....... 


570,076 


Wilmington, -..-.. 


129,146 


Norfolk, ....... 


798,673 


Baltimore, - . 


85,666 


New York, ....... 


162,184 


Boston, ...... 


192,084 


Philadelphia, -.-.... 


99,141 


Indianola, ...... 


18,891 


Port Kojal, ....... 


19,491 


Providence, ...... 


12,723 


West Point and City Point, ..... 


223,293 


Pensacola, ...... 


4,529 


Brunswick, ....... 

Total, ...... 


5,558 


5,978,721 



1880-81. 


1881-82. 


1882-3. 


Bbls. 


Bbls. 


Bbls. 


112,162 


78,000 


86,000 


80,460 


58,000 


74,000 


223,000 


227,583 


205,763 



TRADE, COMMERCE AND INDUSTRIES. 31 

THE KICE TRADE. 

The rice market for the past year has been anything but satisfactory, both 
to the producer and dealer, owing to the large quantities of Sandwich Island 
rice being allowed to come in free, and the reduction of duty on other foreign 
rices of Jc. per pound since July 1, which has given us a declining and unsatis- 
factory market. 

The total yield of the crops of Carolina, Georgia and Louisiana for the past 
three years was as follows : 

Carolina, 

Georgia, - - - 

Louisiana, - - - - 

The bulk of last year's yield of rice has been distributed from first hands 
directly to the consumer. 

In the Western, Northern, Northwestern and Middle States our facilities 
for shipping direct to the trade are equal and in many cases superior to New 
York and other formerly large distributing markets. 

With free rice from the Sandwich Islands and Jc. reduction of duty on 
foreign whole rices, and with granulated or broken rice coming in at 20 per 
cent, instead of 2Jc. per pound, and the large yield in Louisiana, we can but 
look for a low range of prices, which if our holders will meet and dispose of the 
crop as it comes to market will enable us to shut out foreign rices to a great 
extent, and to find a ready sale for all our production, whilst if the holders will 
not accept the prices, but store and hold, the foreign rices will come in again as 
they did this year, compelling the domestic to be sold at low prices with the 
additional changes for carrying, etc. 

The following table will give the total shipments of rice from the port of 
Savannah for the year ending Sept. 1, 1883 : 

Bbls. Clean. Bags Bough. 
To Boston, - - . _ . 5,667 

To New York, - ... 12,768 2,708 

To Philadelphia, .... - 5,598 

To Baltimore, . . . . - 2,164 

Per Central Railroad to West and interior, - 8,470 3,666 

Per S. F. & W. Ry. to West and interior, - - 5,377 

To Providence, via Baltimore, - - 324 

To Western cities, via Baltimore, - - 10,423 

To Boston, via Baltimore, - - - 19 

To Liverpool, ... - - 29 



50,839 6,374 



NAVAL STOKES. 



Concerning the Naval Store business in this city we quote the following 
from the News of Sept. 1, 1883, and we will take the occasion of saying that 



32 SAVANNAH HEK 



the report published by the JVeivs is about the fairest and fullest report of the 
kind we have seen tabulated by any of the papers in the South. We have found 
it of great value in making out our report, and have not, nor shall we fail to 
make use of it whenever it suits our convenience, acknowledging here and 
now our obligations for the facts which it furnishes; 

" In regard to our immediate receipts, we show a gratifying increase. We 
run up receipts of spirits turpentine from 77,059 casks to 116,127 casks, and of 
rosins from 309,834 barrels to 430,548 barrels — an increase of about 50 per cent, 
on spirits and about 40 per cent, on rosins, the difference in the rate of increase 
in the two articles being caused by the fact that spirits has been closely market- 
ed, while some rosins are still in the country. Comparing our receipts with the 
other Southern ports, according to the appended table, which has been carefully 
made up from the best statistical sources, we ascertain that — 

Savannah increases 50 per cent, on spirits and 40 per cent, on rosin. 

Wilmington decreases 8 per cent, on spirits and 13 per cent, on rosin. 

Charleston increases 9 per cent, on spirits and 14 per cent, on rosin. 

Mobile increases 46 per cent, on spirits and 18 per cent, on rosin. 

Brunswick increases 9 per cent, on spirits and 17 per cent, on rosin. 

COMPAKATIVE TABLE OF RECEIPTS FROM SEPTEMBER 1, 1882, TO SEPTEMBER 1, 1883. 

Spirits Turp, Kosins. 

188 
Savannah, 
Wilmington, 
Charleston, 
Mobile, 
Brunswick, 

Total, - - 282,172 330,686 1,295,006 1,401,235 

The following table shows the increase in this branch of business since 1874, 
giving the receipts at Savannah for the years named: 

Spts. tupt. Rosins. 

1874-75, --------- 9,555 41,707 

1875-76, 15,521 59,792 

1876-77, - - - - - - - - - 19.984 98,888 

1877-78, ..-..-.■.- 31,138 177,104 

1878-79, - - 34,368 177,447 

1879-80, - - 46,321 231,421 

1880-81, --------- 54,703 282,386 

1881-82, - \ ----.. . 77,059 309,834 

1882-83, --------- 116,127 430,548 



1881-2. 


1882-3. 


1881-2. 


1882-3. 


77,059 


116,127 


309,834 


430,548 


91,417 


84,225 


486,379 


424,068 


65,461 


71,230 


264,645 


301,618 


27,579 


40,044 


143,791 


170,421 


20,959 


19,060 


90,357 


74,580 



Total 404,776 1,809,127 

The following tabulated statement shows the Exports of Kaval Stores from 
the ]H)rt of Savannah for the year ending Sept. 1st, 1883 : 



TRADE, COMMERCE AKD INDUSTRIES. 



33 



Coastwise. 
New York, 
Boston, 
Philadelphia, 
Baltimore, 

Interior towns, 



Foreign. 
London, 
Liverpool, 
Antwerp, 
Qneenstown, 
Cronstadt, 
Barcelona, 
Trieste, 
Lisbon, 
Pernambuco, 
Glasgow, 
Aberdeen, - 
Stettin, 
Goole, 
Cork, 

Rotterdam, 
Hull, 
Bristol, 
Hamburg, 
Gibraltar, 
Dantzic, 
Marseilles, 
Koningsberg, 
Riga, 

Malaga or Carthagena, 
Cadiz, 
Raima de Majorca, 

Total, 



Spirits. 


Rosin. 


Spirits. 


Rosin. 


23,063 


107,705 






9,792 


35,319 






6,957 


41,741 






10,419 


78,069 










49,581 


263,490 






- 


- 


1,561 


2,906 



13,046 
1,561 
7,430 
1,662 



10 

2,090 
200 



7,487 
8,517 
1,694 
6,971 
4,950 



51,142 266,396 



16,404 

11,884 

3,569 

18,975 
7,041 

5,278 
3,959 

2,558 

3,158 
8,213 
8,419 
2,650 
9,293 

9,895 

16,895 

2,650 

2,500 

8,150 

2,200 

3,339 

1,270 

120 

61 



55,618 148,481 



106,760 414,877 



THE LUMBER TRADE. 



The lumber business has for many years been an important item in the 
history of Savannah's exports. In 1847 it had become a trade of very much 
importance, and employed at that early day two hundred vessels of all sizes to 
transport to almost every ]3art of the habitable globe. The Yellow Pine of 
Georgia, the pinus australis of Michaud, is confessedly the most valuable, 
because the most durable and the most beautiful of all resinous woods for the 



34 SAVANNAH HER 



purpose of structure. It diifers from the pine of the same name in Korth and 
South Carolina in many of its features; the most striking one is its grain, for 
so the various laminal or concentric circles that compose the tree are called. 
The grain of the Georgia pine is much closer and finer than that of either of 
the other States, and the resinous matter with which all pines abound is more 
firmly incorporated with the wood, and less easily extracted by water or climate. 
So long as this vital principle of the wood is retained, the wood itself, if free 
from sap, is incorruptible; but when from conspiring elementary causes this 
natural aliment is parted with (and this is soonest the case when the grain is 
coarse and the laminae far asunder), a space is left open to the alternations of air 
and moisture, and these are the sure harbingers of decay. The Georgia pine 
enters largely into the construction of vessels, and is considered jpar excilant 
for flooring purposes. 

Apparently, all our lumber men are doing well. It is true that during the 
year a few of the smaller mills have been compelled to stop running, which was 
owing to the fact that all the timber had been cut down in the immediate vicin- 
ity, and, of course, the cost of putting supplies within easy reach would not 
warrant their running, because it costs as much to run a mill cutting 20.000 to 
30,000 feet per day as one cutting 50,000 to 60,000 feet, requiring about the same 
amount of labor. The introduction of labor-saving machinery in the past few 
years has enabled the largest mills to run very cheaply, while at the same time 
they do a larger amount of work, thereby facilitating the filling of contracts 
much more readily as well as satisfactorily. Appended we give the shipments 
of lumber and timber for the year, both coastwise and foreign. 

SHIPMENTS OF LUMBER AND TIMBER FOR THE YEAR ENDING AUGUST 31, 1883. 

Lumber. . Timber. 

Coastwise, feet, - . . - - 51,944,912 2,412,744 

Foreign, - - - - . - 19,158,792 3,543,947 



Total, - - . - . 71,103,704 5,956,691 

THE FERTILIZER TRADE. 

The steady improvement in this branch of our trade is due to the fact that 
our merchants have been reaching out into other States, and competing with 
Northern establishments. Our merchants have succeeded in irivintr l)etter terms 
to the planters of Tennessee and Texas than could the Northern dealer, and, as 
a consequence, our business has been materially increased. The trade during 
the past year amounted to about seventy thousand tons, valued at $2,600,000. 
Appended are the shipments in pounds of commercial fertilizers by way of the 
different railroad and steamer lines from Savannah during the year. The state- 
ment includes all through shipments from other points in addition to the 
amount shipped by our merchants, and shows that the bulk of the trade is justly 
credited to the enterprise of Savannah factors. 



TRADE, COMMERCE AND INDUSTRIES. 35 

EXPORTS OF GUANO FROM SEPT. ], 1882, TO AUG. 31, 1883, INCLUSIVE. 

Pounds. 

Per Central Railroad, ------ 124,168,507 

Per Savannah, Florida and "Western Railway, - - - 27,384,069 

Per Charleston and Savannah Railway, - - - 1,850,000 

Per Augusta River steamers, ----- 3,278,360 

Per Florida and Satilla steamers, - . - - 1,098,016 

Coasters, -------- 221,000 



Total, ----- - 157,999,952 

THE PROVISIONS TRADE. 

The amount of trade during the past year in provisions has been quite large; 
in point of fact, has shown considerable increase, but in general results has not 
been as satisfactory as in former years, which was due to the gradual shrinkage 
of values prevailing throughout the summer, the falling off being fully one half, 
and, of course, jobbers were cut down to the very lowest margins. Consequently 
they report the business was not quite as remunerative as formerly, but there is 
a very bright future for the trade, as the opening of new railroad lines in Florida 
has opened up territory which this market has failed to cover, owing to the high 
rates of freight to particular points. It is to be hoped that our leading lines 
will offer every inducement to bring the trade to this point, as with low rates 
and ample shipping facilities our merchants will be enabled to shut out all com- 
petition. Of course, we have not felt any real competition as yet, but, as this 
state of affairs exists, and cannot be ignored, it is better that something be done 
to meet it, as it will not do to lose our present position as a provision market. 
In the years of famine or of plenty Savannah has steadily held the high position 
as the best market of supply to all who tried her. At all times were her mer- 
chants in position to supply anything in the provision line; at all times far-see- 
ing and conservative in their views, courteous and straight in their dealings, 
they have reaped the reward due to their energy, and the provision trade of the 
city stands to-day a high monument of what men can do. 

WOOL AND HIDES. 

This branch of our commerce is gradually on the increase, and Savannah 
is fast becoming an important point for the handling of wool and hides from 
the interior. The following table shows the receipts and exports of hides and 
wool for the past year. These figures, however, do not include through ship- 
ments: 

RECEIPTS. 

Wool. Hides. 

Savannah, Florida and Western Railroad, - 636,061 772,279 

Central Railroad, ... - - 1,101,780 854,560 

Charleston and Savannah Railroad, - - 7,500 3,500 

Augusta steamers, ----- 9,650 6,400 

Florida steamers, - - - . 121,600 315,000 

Wagons, ------ 32,000 46,000 



Total, pounds, - - - - 1,908,591 1,997,739 



36 



SAVANNAH HER 



EXPORTS. 



New York, 

Baltimore, 

Boston, 



Wool. 


Hides. 


3,119 


210 


40 


3,035 


2,658 


3,822 



Total, bales. 



5,817 



7,067 



FRUITS AND VEGETABLES. 

We now come to examine one of the most important branches of Savan- 
nah's trade. The business in foreign fruits, nuts, etc., is not so large in this 
city as one would wish to see it, mainly on account of the quarantine restric- 
tions. There are, however, fine cargoes of fruits and nuts received at this 
port. The main business is done in Florida fruits and vegetables and those 
raised in our own immediate neighborhood. The whole country around Savan- 
nah is laid out in magnificent " truck '' farms. The salubrity of the climate 
usually brings vegetation in the South, in this neighborhood, to perfection long 
before the snows have melted from the hills in the North. As a consequence 
the gardener in this vicinity is enabled to sell his crop at fancy prices in the 
North and West. We will here remark that there are good openings here for 
industrious gardeners in the ]Sorth who will come and settle. Land is cheap, 
and the profits are large and certain. 

Below we give the shipments of fruits and vegetables from the Ist of 
September, 1882, to 31st of August, 1883, inclusive: 

WATERMELONS. 

To New York, --..... 406,677 

To Philadelphia, ..-.-.- 117,675 

To Baltimore, - - - - - - - 61,100 

To Boston, -...-..- 215,401 



Total, 



ORANGES, LEMONS, ETC. 



To New York, - - - 

To Philadelphia, 

To Boston, - - - - 

Per Southern Express Company through. 



Total, - 

To New York, 

To Philadelphia, 

To Boston, - 

To Baltimore, 

Per Southern Express Company, 

Total, 



VEGETABLES. 



- 


800,853 


Bbls. 


Boxes. 


1,679 


132,642 


350 


17,591 


499 


25,978 


- 


65,490 


2,528 


241,693 


Bbls. 


Pkgs. 


27,167 


158,962 


9,127 


42,811 


3,420 


25,970 


- 


77,446 


14,467 


101,041 



54,190 



406,230 



TRADE, COMBIERCE AND INDUSTRIES. 37 

THE COFFEE TRADE. 

Coffee is an article of importation in which Savannah is gradually making 
her way to the front rank. Whole cargoes come to this port, and from a very 
small beginning the business has grown until now the value of the business for 
the last year amounted to over $200,000. Five firms are engaged in the importa- 
tion of coffee direct. 

THE SALT TRADE. 

The article of salt is such a necesLsity that the wonder has often been ex- 
pressed where does it all come from. Liverpool, Turks Island, and some of the 
wells situated principally in Ohio and West Virginia furnish the bulk of this 
article consumed in the United States, but the two former are dealt in more 
extensively by Savannah. The fact that gentlemen of undoubted probity and 
substantial resources have control of the salt market in Savannah should be an 
inducement to all buyers in the South and West to come to this city for their 
supplies. The facilities for importing are unequalled; salt can be brought as 
ballast in ships coming to this port from Liverpool for cotton, and we are sur- 
prised that more of it does not come in this way. During the past year there 
was brought to this market nearly 16,000,000 pounds of salt, valued at $25,000. 

HORSES AND MULES. 

A feature of the trade of Savannah is the traffic in horses and mules. The 
very best mules raised in America are to be found in the sale-stables of this city; 
and horses of heavy draught, fed upon the blue grass of the Western States, and 
notoriously free from the imperfections and disorders to which horses are liable, 
are brought to Savannah in large numbers and in better condition than can be 
found elsewhere, save where they are raised. In fancy horses for road purposes 
the market does not pretend to compete with certain Northern cities, where the 
best breeds of trotters are raised, and where the demand is always great; but 
the market is always stocked with medium horses at fair prices, and the character 
of those engaged in the business is a guarantee to buyers that their representa- 
tions are correct. 

THE COAL TRADE. 

Coal lies at the bottom of all successful manufactures, and as Savannah al- 
ready has a number of manufacturing establishments now in operation, it would 
be strange indeed if there were not a number of firms engaged in the coal 
business. A large portion of the State is underlaid with a rich vein of coal 
which is almost at our very door, and with the cheap rates from the interior can be 
brought here and sold to ships. We make the prediction that the time is not far 
distant when all the steamships which come into this port will do their coaling 
while here. 

THE OYSTER TRADE. 

The varieties of oysters used in Savannah are numerous, and every one has 
his or her peculiar preference. There are "the Montgoraerys," "the Isle of 
Hopes, " " the Skidaways, " " the White Bluffs, " " the Daufuskies " and the 



38 SAVANNAH HER 



"Thunderbolts," all very nearly alike, but the connoisseur, in his cultivated 
taste, says they are as different in flavor as they are in name. 

Over 500 gallons are brought into the city daily from all along the coast, 
Montgomery and Thunderbolt furnishing the largest bulk. These oysters are 
taken readily by the shippers — and are at once prepared for shipment. The 
shipments amount to an average of 400 gallons daily, and nearly every city and 
town in the State is supplied from this market, Macon and Atlanta being the 
heaviest purchasers. 

The season proper is from 1st of September — the first month with the '' r " 
— to the 1st of May, eight months. On an average of receiving 500 gallons 
daily for the eight months the receipts for the season would be 112,000 gallons, 
while the shipments would run up to 89,000. These figures do not include the 
heavy run of orders during the holidays, but are given as under rather than 
above the estimated total shipment. The home consumption will probably 
amount to 350 gallons daily, giving 78,400 gallons for the entire season of eight 
months. It will thus be seen that the oyster business is no small item in the 
trade of Savannah, but one which is assuming considerable prominence, and 
likely to grow into still larger jjroportions as the demand, for the delicious and 
succulent bivalve increases. 

THE JOBBING TRADE OF SAYANNAH. 

In taking up this department of our labors, we })ropose demonstrating, so 
far as in our power lies, the vantage-ground Savannah occupies and the facilities 
she possesses for the conduct of a successful commerce, not only respecting those 
articles of manufactured goods turned out from her industrial establishments, 
but to include all goods imported from other markets, whether of domestic or 
foreign production. Our mammoth establishments for the sale of dry goods, 
groceries, hardware, queensware, drugs and all the articles that go to make up a 
general merchandise trade, contain immense stocks of every description, and are 
conducted by merchants of acknowledged probity, energy, intelligence and 
wealth — many of whom were engaged in business here previous to the war, while 
a host of new houses have sprung up, increasing competition and imparting re- 
newed vigor to the sinews of trade which were impaired by the terrible convul- 
sions of civic strife. They have thus confidently entered the lists of commercial 
rivalry with the merchants of the Eastern cities, having themselves perfected 
arrangements with the manufactories of the United States, France and Germany, 
gaining facilities thereby of utmost importance. 

Formerly it was the custom of buying stocks only twice a year (Spring and 
Summer, and Fall and Winter), but this plan has been completely changed, and 
assortments are now kept up by making purchases oftener, say every month or 
two, and the conclusion is that "old goods" are rarely, if ever, on hand, and 
articles are not handled in the store six months, are kept cleaner and brighter 
and more attractive. If, then, the retailer who visits New York and the East 
cannot afford to go oftener than twice a year, he suffers loss by being " be- 
hind the fashion" if he does not go, and loses time and traveling expenses if he 



TRADE, COMMERCE AND INDUSTRIES. 39 

does go. If he is an experienced merchant, he may perform the labor of selec- 
tion without any serious detriment; but even then it is labor, and consumes all 
the difference in profit he would gain by purchasing in a nearer market. If he 
is inexperienced, he is likely to be led into the purchase of goods which will 
prove entirely unsalable, and the loss thereto incident may prove a serious draw- 
back upon the success of a whole season's business. Hence it is obvious that a 
purchaser of a miscellaneous stock, including everything adapted to the wants of 
a rural town or city population in the country, must be, when in Savannah, as 
near the most desirable market as it is possible for him to get. 

The only j)ractical question for a retailer to consider, then, is, whether it is 
probable he can make his purchases in the Savannah market as cheaply as in any 
other. This we assert he can do, and we leave it to the consideration of those 
who study and appreciate commercial economy. To our own personal knowledge 
it has been already forcibly and eloquently demonstrated. 

Is it not probable, then, that the merchants of Savannah, in view of their ad- 
vantages, consignments from abroad seeking their shelves, with abundance of 
capital and good credit, can buy and sell on terms as favorable as any of their 
competitors? 

There are a great many other local advantages that might be placed to the 
credit side of our account, but such as we have omitted here will be spoken of 
in detail in the following pages. Those we have considered, however, are enti- 
tled to the closest consideration of the country merchant. 

THE WHOLESALE DRY GOODS AND NOTIONS TRADE. 

The trade in dry goods, considered as a branch of commerce, is the 
most important of any now existing in this country. It controls a greater 
amount of capital, employs a larger number of persons, and contributes a greater 
value of commodities, than any other branch of mercantile pursuit. The whole- 
sale dry goods and notions trade is for the most part confined to Congress 
Street, with one exception, one house being located on Broughton Street. 

In the dry goods line, perhaps more than in any other, energy and capacity 
decide the success of the business man, for it is a business requiring great judg- 
ment in the selection of stock as well as resolution in general management. To 
buy at the right time and the right classes of goods to suit the trade and in 
proper quantities, as well as to gather the custom to take the goods, require no 
ordinary class of ability. Commercial prosperity is largely due to the business 
men who have control of this interest, for they have shown a degree of ability 
and energy in building up the wholesale dry goods trade of this city surpassed 
nowhere in the country. The News in its annual review says of this trade: 

"Our jobbing trade has a bright record for the past year; no failures, 
increase of territory yearly, a steady increase of sales, consequently increase of 
stocks and facilities of doing business. It to-day looks forward to the time 
when it will make Savannah the Southern market for dry goods and notions for 
the States of South Carolina, Georgia, Florida and Alabama, If push, capital, 
accommodation, stocks and prices to meet the wants of the trade mean anything, 
then it will be done in the near future." 



40 SAVANNAH HER 



WHOLESALE GROCERY TRADE. 

The business of last year supasses all that preceded it in volume and extent. 
The comparative new industries throughout the country tributary to Savannah 
have helped to swell its already well-established and increasing commerce. 
Every orange grove in Florida, every turpentine farm, has added itc quota of 
consumption. Many other factors in the tield of enterprise have contributed to 
produce the result which makes Savannah the market for the retailers of 
Georgia, Florida, Alabama and lower South Carolina. Our wholesale grocery 
business is governed by capitalists and merchants of long experience, who supply 
themselves in largest quantities from original sources. 

The through low rates of freight to Savannah by car load lots, with discounts 
for quantity, strengthened by purchases of large invoices and their corresponding 
discounts, give our wholesale grocers the oj)portunity of dividing the goods to 
retailers and country merchants at as low or lower figures than small or 
moderate quantities can be bought at any other competing point. The rapidity 
with which goods can reach the interior from Savannah obviates the necessity of 
laying in larger stocks than are wanted for immediate use, which is a very 
decided advantage to the retailer. It prevents the accumulation of old stock, 
which is a dead weight in business. 

Tliereare thirteen exclusively wholesale grocery establishments in Savannah. 
These thirteen firms do an annual business aggregating $10,000,000. 

WHOLESALE CLOTHING. 

Ready-made clothing in Savannah, as well as in all large jobbing markets, 
occupies an important position among business pursuits. It has extended to all 
sections of the country, limiting the country merchant's sale of piece goods for 
men's and boys' wear, and compelling tailors, in some instances, to abandon 
their trade and embark in the business themselves, or seek other employment. 
The introduction of sewing machines, to this class of work, has greatly facili- 
tated rapid and durable manufacture, and brought clothing down in price to a 
wonderful degree. Country merchants, who have been careful in the selections 
of sizes and styles, have found that the sale of clothing can be effected with less 
trouble than piece goods, and without the serious drawback of remnants — that 
there is less competition — that their daily receipts of cash are thereby increased, 
as well as other advantages. Indeed, so satisfactory and lucrative has this busi- 
ness proven, that, as an additional illustration of the tendency of the age to 
increased manufactured articles, mention may be made of shirt-making, and of 
those branches including gentlemen's and boys' underwear, which form impor- 
tant adjuncts to the business. Connected with this department, gents' furnish- 
ing goods, embracing neckwear, handkerchiefs, gloves, hosiery, etc., etc., come 
in for a large share of attention. 

The Savannah market will favorably compare in this respect with any, in 
extensive and varied stocks, in quality, style, workmanship, " fit," reasonable 
price and fair dealing. Three firms in the city are wholesaling clothing, and 
there are quite a number of retail firms who are not averse to selling a bill to 
countrv merchants. Tlie total business in clothincr we estimate to be $750,000. 



TRADE, COMMERCE AND INDUSTRIES. 41 

WHOLESALE BOOTS AND SHOES. 

Not less important tlian the wholesale clothing trade is that of boots and 
shoes, which has also had a wonderful growth in the last few years. Like the 
old, slow-coach method of making our wearing apparel by hand, the cobbler's 
bench, with its accompanying '' kit," which not many years ago was an essential 
feature upon almost every plantation, as well as a fixture of every city, town or 
cross-road hamlet, has ''had to go" the way of all old-time customs^ The 
advance of progress, with its powerful equipment of labor-saving machinery, 
hesitates not to destroy ruthlessly the well-loved images of our earlier recollec- 
tions. But regrets are soon dissipated by the blessings which flow from what — 
at the time — is looked upon as tantamount to vandalism. This is fully demon- 
strated in the fact that ninety per cent, of the boots and shoes now worn are 
factory-made, and as a result the world receives compensation in a multitude 
of ways, and to an extent that could never possibly have been hoped for from 
the ancient system. The jnanifold benefits derived by our city from this impor- 
tant branch of business may be conceived of from the immense annual sales 
made by the dealers of this city, footing up over $1,000,000, and yearly being 
augmented by the expanding trade, which is reaching out in every direction 
through the country now tributary to us, and being added to by the further 
increase of transportation facilities. 

WHOLESALE HATS AND CAPS. , 

In this line we have several wholesale establishments that carry full and com- 
plete stocks of goods, from which selections can be made to as good advantage 
as to quality and variety, as well as to prices, as at any other point in the South. 
Recognizing the fact that to secure custom and prosper in their business they 
must not be behind their rivals in the larger cities in any particular, our hat 
and cap merchants keep constantly on hand a full assortments of goods, which 
they sell at prices as favorable to the purchaser as any other Southern city can 
boast. Here every variety of gents' headwear may be had, from the fine silks 
and furs to the cheapest straws and every-day caps. The trade in this line is in 
an exceedingly prosperous condition, and the annual operations of the establish- 
ments engaged in it show that their growth is healthy as well as rapid. The 
sales in 1883 approximated about $500,000. 

WHOLESALE DRUGS, PAINTS, ETC, 

Long before the wholesaling of goods in this line was ever thought of as a 
distinct business, or even considered in combination with any other branch in 
this city, the great houses of the East had already established themselves firmly, 
as they thought, in the trade of this whole region of country ; so that for every 
dollar's worth of custom the houses of this city obtained they had to contend 
with giants already in the field. The same condition of affairs, however, held 
good in all branches of our wholesale trade, but the enterprise, vim, and deter- 
mined efforts of our drug men have resulted in the most pronounced success, 
just as the outcome of the energies put in every other department has brought 



42 SAVANNAH HER 



jirosperity to those so engaged. Those houses dealing in this line have by their 
skill as pharmacists and chemists, and their thorough knowledge of the wants 
of the people in the territory tributary to this city, succeeded in fully establish- 
ing themselves in the good estimation of their patrons, and building up a trade 
which will not in anywise suffer by comparison — relatively speaking — with the 
immense establishments of the large Eastern cities. Carrying nothing but the 
freshest and purest goods in the way of drugs, keeping every department in 
their line up to the highest standard, and with ample capital, their stocks are 
constantly enlarging, and their trade extending and growing heavier. The 
value of the business for last year w^as fully $600,000. 

THE WHOLESALE LIQUOR TRADE. 

The liquor business is one to be found everywhere, go where we will, and 
notwithstanding it is one which bears the unenviable reputation in all quarters 
of the globe of being a destroyer of mankind — not without good reason it is 
true — and paradoxic although it may be, we find it not infrequently in advance 
of civilization, and alioays keeping abreast with the vanguard of progress. It 
is a source of undoubted wealth to all our cities, and contributes unquestioned 
strength and general prosperity to the commerce and industries of all commu- 
nities. Candidly speaking, it is an evil, hydra-headed and more venemous 
than the tooth of any serpent that drags its cold and clammy folds over the 
bosom of this kindly earth, when abused by fallen manhood, and it is this mal- 
treatment of an article, which evidently was not created for a baneful purpose, 
and which we know contains elements highly beneficial to the world at large, 
that has brought odium upon the name, and woes unnumbered upon the human 
race, individually and collectively. 

Fortunately, however, for our city, the trade has always been in the hands 
of perfectly honorable business men, and being not less enterprising and pub- 
lic-spirited than they are u])riglit in character and dealings, they have succeeded 
in establishing an exceptionally high reputation for their business throughout 
the entire country tributary to the trade of this city. The stocks kept here 
equal those to be found in any city of the country in quality, both in the 
imported and domestic goods, and they also compare favorably in extent, while 
the assortment is full and complete in all the various brands of wines, brandies 
and liquors. The high standard of goods has made this point a wholesale cen- 
tre for the trade, quite extensive in proportions, and highly profitable to those 
engaged in it. 

WHOLESALE HARDWARE, ETC. 

This department of trade embraces hardware, heavy iron, steel, hollow- 
ware, tinware, etc., etc.; and very properly deserves a prominent place among 
the pioneer jobbing lines of the city, having been among the first to take the 
field against older and established points. However, it has advanced with 
steady strides, and is now one of the solid interests of the city. Experience 
has fully demonstrated the fact that it can not only be carried on here with suc- 
cess in the face of all competition, but that it is one of the most prosperous and 



TRADE, COMMERCE AND INDUSTRIES. 43 

profitable lines of trade we have. Notwithstanding the formidable propor- 
tions the trade has already reached, there is abundance of room for a large 
increase of the business. Indeed, no point in the country offers better induce- 
ments than this as a centre of the hardware business. In 1883 the total sales 
amounted to not less than $1,500,000, and very possibly the actual total exceeds 
those figures. One thing is assured, beyond all question of doubt, that the 
future of the trade here is of the most promising character, and must reach that 
high degree of prominence which the grand facilities of the locality will fully 
sustain and which the entire country tributary to our market demands. 

WHOLESALE CROCKERY, ETC. 

This department of our wholesale trade is represented by establishments 
carrying every variety of goods in their line, from the most costly articles 
of viiV^w to the plainest pieces of kitchen-ware. These houses keep up with the 
general progress of the business both as to the quality and quantity of their 
stocks, and all the latest designs in table-ware, etc., are kept on hand. It is a 
business requiring thorough training for its management, and unless one has this, 
and understands perfectly all the details of the trade, it is impossible for him to 
carry it on without disaster. That our dealers in china, glassware, crockeiy, and 
the sundry other wares embraced in this line of trade, possess every necessary 
qualification for successfully and satisfactorily conducting the business is con- 
clusively demonstrated by the eminent degree of prosperity they have enjoyed 
in the past, and the rapid augmentation of trade making it still more 
important each succeeding year. 

MUSIC AND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS. 

Savannah has two houses ensjao-ed in the sale of music and musical 
iastruments. Stocks are not only extensive, but represent the best quality of 
goods; rare collections of sheet music adapted to all manner of instruments, 
with immense stocks of pianos, organs, melodeons, violins, flutes, guitars, 
banjos, accordeons; German-silver, brass and field band instruments; strings; 
musical goods of every variety, from a reed fife to the most elaborately finished 
and finely-cased rosewood piano, representing all of the most popular and 
celebrated manufactories in Europe and America, and brought to this city in all 
forms — grand, square and upright, bichord and semi-grand, boudoir and cottage 
grand. The importation of the best class of German and French instruments is 
largely on the increase. The trade in this business will amount to nearly 
$600,000 annually. 

BOOKS AND STATIONERY. 

The character and standing of those houses engaged in this trade is well 
and favorably known throughout this section, and their enterprise and liberality 
to the trade has kept abreast of our great advancement. The business is in a 
healthy condition, and dealers report a large per cent of gain last year over pre- 
vious years. 



44 SAVANNAH HER 



JEWELRY, WATCHES, SILVERWARE, ETC. 

In this branch Savannah is ahead of her neighboring cities. Some of 
our houses are mammoth concerns and carry extensive stocks of the finer 
qualities of goods, and all the different styles of jewelry known to the trade are 
manufactured or imported, and our jewelers have been quite successful in meet- 
ing popular taste in a business that is excessively variable in this regard. The 
various precious stones, of which large and costly stocks are always on hand, 
are set in Savannah with an elegance and finish that cannot be surpassed. 
Watches of all kinds, both of American and foreign manufacture, from the most 
expensive to the least costly, are sold by the trade as low as can be obtained 
from the manufacturer. 

MISCELLANEOUS. 

In addition to the leading lines of the wholesale business which we have 
brieriy alluded to, there are of course a large number of other branches, such as 
are always to be found clustered at a large wholesale centre, which contribute 
largely to the general prominence and financial prosperity of the community, 
and its commerce a»d industries. 

But while we cheerfully accord to these varied lines of our commerce the 
meed of praise they so justly deserve for their generous contribution to the 
wealth of the city by their vast sales, annually aggregating millions of dollars, 
we have not the space to take them up separately and seriatim, giving to each 
the extended notice its intrinsic value so richly merits. Suflice it to- say, that 
they all are in an exceedingly prosperous condition, and that they are extending 
their trade in every direction with great enterprise and commendable energy. 

In conclusion, it can be said with truth and pride that, as a wholesale point 
for the establishment of any branch of commerce, no city in this country can 
boast advantages superior to those centred in this particular portion of the 
Sunny South, and which are steadily building up — making broad, firm and solid 
the financial integrity, honor, wealth and enduring greatness of the Forest City 
of the South. 

THE RETAIL TRADE OF SAVANNAH. 

It is not expected that a detailed statement could be made of the retail 
trade here in its various departments. Such a paper, fully elalwrated, would 
by far too greatly transcend the limits not already occupied in this work, delay 
its appearance, and demand a personal sacrifice of time and means which can- 
not now be entertained. Our patrons and readers will be content, we are cer- 
tain, with a general outline of it, as furnishing an indication as to its extent 
and importance. 

The benefits of a healthy and progressive retail trade to a city are not easily 
summed up or disposed of in a few words. It not only supplies the city and 
country demand, but the inducements which it ofi'ers bring hither thousands 
upon thousands of dollars from all portions of the surrounding country tribu- 
tary to this market, by means of convenient railroads and river communica- 



TRADE, COMMERCE AND ENDUSTRIES. 



45 



tion. Ev^ery species of goods, from the plain and common to the most superb 
and costly articles, are to be obtained here at prices which are the same as 
Eastern retail figures, and we believe every article in general use can be found. 
The retail merchants of this city are, as a body, men of intelligence and busi- 
ness qualifications, and constitute an element in our midst which adds much 
to the vigor, prosperity and growth of our city. 

Their establishments are scattered over every quarter; in the business 
centres and in the suburbs, everywhere a group of dwellings may be found, 
where some enterprising retailer has set up his sign as a landmark of the 
extending frontiers 
of civilization, and ^= ^^^ 
while driving a 
good business for 
himself, is adding 
something to the 
grand aggregate of 
bustle and impor- 
tance of the city. 
Although there are 
a great many o f 
these houses 
keeping mi seel - 

laneous stocks, yet we feel confident the following figures will approximate the 
true number, and for the most part those that have not been mentioned before. 
Altogether there are about 40 firms retailing dry goods; boots and shoes, 50; 
clothing and furnishing goods, 29; drugs, 29; cigars and tobacco, 25; groceries, 
237; saloons, 111; bakers, 24; butchers, 47; barbers, 53; commission mer- 
chants, 85; besides a numerous array of miscellaneous houses, so varied that it 
would be an herculean task to give a clear idea of their pursuits. After hav- 
ing made a careful summary, we are able to place the retail establishments, all 
branches included, at not less than one thousand one hundred and eighty -four ^ 
We hardly feel like attempting an estimate of their business, for anything short 
of a complete census would be incomplete, for the man has yet to be born, and 
besides be vouchsafed prying qualities and inquisitiveness supernatural, to ena- 
ble him to form any correct idea of trades whose large dealers have a horror of 
tax-gatherers, and small dealers a penchant for making their business appear as 
large as possible, and oftentimes swelling their volume beyond such reason that 
even a newspaper reporter would be put to blush; and yet for the sake of a lit- 
tle mathematical calculation, even if we cut down the receipts of the houses to 
$50 per day each for 300 days of the year, we have an annual miscellaneous 
retail trade of more than seventeen millions of dollars. 




46 SAVANNAH HER 



MANUFACTURES AND MANUFACTURING ADVANTAGES OF 

SAVANNAH. 

It is an axiom none the less true because trite, that no city has been or can 
become permanently prosperous without manufactures. A prosperity based 
exclusively upon a commercial business must necessarily be ephemeral. A city 
which, for instance, depends upon any one or more of the great agricultural 
staples for support, business and growth, is liable to become paralyzed in her 
energies and interests, not only by failure in the production of such staples, but 
by their diversion to other points whose eligibility gives them the advantage 
and preference as markets. Such, also, are the fluctuations in prices of articles 
of produce that no certainty of successful operation can be relied upon; and 
when uncertain, feverish and exciting speculation underlies the business of any 
community or city, there is no guarantee of permanent and stable prosperity; 
whereas, where manufachiring is carried on successfully there is a steady, 
healthful and substantial growth. These facts, then, however unwelcome they 
may be to strictly commercial men, prompt us to the consideration of an 
eminently favorable manufacturing point. 

The term manufacture, in its derivative sens'e, signifies making by hand- 
Its modern acceptation, however, is directly the reverse of its original meaning; 
and it is now applied more particularly to that class of products which are made 
extensively by machinery, without much aid from manual labor. The word, 
therefore, is an exceedingly flexible one, and as political economists disagree in 
opinion as to whether millers and bakers are properly manufacturers, we shall, 
if need be, take advantage of the uncertainty, and consider as manufacturers 
what strictly may belong to other classifications of productive industry. The 
end of every manufacture is to increase the utility of objects by modifying their 
external forms or changing their internal constitution, and that the labors of 
both millers and bakers efl^ect these things stands undisputed. Political 
economists also divide the essential requisites of production into two parts, viz.: 
Labor and appropriate natural objects. But when applied to manufacturing in- 
dustry, " success," they say, " depends upon a variety or rather combination of 
circumstances, partly moral and partly j9Ay52C«Z." Foremost among the former 
are freedom of industry and security of property. Happily for us that our Re- 
publican form of Government not only protects, but fosters and encourages 
industry, while true Republican principles make its faithful pui-suit the " open 
sesame" to the enjoyment of its manifold benefits; and property is adequately 
protected by governmental and legislative action wherever honesty is the ruling 
policy. 

Another moral cause contributing and, in fact, essential to eminence in 
manufacturing industry, is the general diftusion of intelligence among the 
people. By intelligence in this connection we do not mean merely the under- 
standing necessary to enable an individual to become the maker or the master of 
a machine, for capacity to contrive and invent seems a part of the original con- 
stitution of man, but simply the exercise of his faculties in the application of 
practical improvements upon successful enterprise in invention of mechanical 



TRADE, COMIVIERCE AND INDUSTRIES. 47 

labor, and the approbation and rewards bestowed thereupon. The eminent posi- 
tions at present occupied by the New Eng-land and other manufacturing States 
are due rather to their sound, intelligent and practical philosophy than to any 
physical advantages or original intellectual superiority. 

As ingenious mechanics and rapid workmen the Anglo-Americans have no 
superiors. As skillful workmen in departments for which they have been spe- 
cially educated, the English are celebrated. Regular and habitual energy in 
labor, however, is a characteristic of both. They have no life but in their work — 
no enjoyment but in the shop. What other races consider amusement, is no 
amusement to them. But in England and America there is a marked difference 
between the quality of the labor that can be obtained in the country and in the 
towns. In fact, in or near large cities only can labor of the first quality be 
obtained. 

" As iron sharpeneth iron, so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his 
friend; and away from the centers of population and competition the face loseth 
its sharpness and the hand its cunning." Cities are in nothing more remark- 
able than in their attractive, magnetic influence upon talent of every description, 

" The man who desires to employ his pen," observes Carey, " and who pos- 
sesses only the ability to conduct a country newspaper, removes to the interior, 
while the man of talent leaves his country paper to take charge of one in the 
city. The dauber of portraits leaves the city to travel the country in search of 
employment, while the painter removes to New York or London." 

Superior mechanics and dexterous workmen manifest a similar preference 
for cities and an abhorrence for isolation; hence, if for no other reason, extensive 
mechanical or manufacturing operations must be conducted at a great disad- 
vantage in isolated localities. Passing to the consideration of the 'physical 
causes of eminence in manufacturing industry, we remark: They are more ob- 
vious than the moral causes, but not more important. To produce manufactured 
goods of a given quality with the least expense being the great desideratum, it 
follows that whatever contributes to economy in production, whatever saves 
labor, or transportation, or raw material, cannot safely be overlooked or despised. 
But to investigate carefully all the circumstances that have an influence upon 
economical production would require a considerable volume, and be foreign to 
our main inquiry. The physical advantages which have contributed to England's 
eminence in manufactures, and which, we think, would apply as well to our 
country, are epitomized by the ^c^mJ-wr^A ^(gm'ew in the following summary: 
Possession of surplus of the raw material used in manufacturing; the command 
of the natural means and agents best fitted to produce power; the position of 
the country as respects others, and the nature of the soil and climate. " As 
respects the first of these circumstances," says the writer, " every one who reflects 
on the nature, value and importance of our manufactures of wool, of the useful 
metals — such as iron, lead, tin, copper — and of leather, flax, and so forth, must 
at once admit that our success in them has been materially promoted by our 
having abundant supplies of the raw material. It is of less consequence whence 
the material of a manufacture possessing great value in small bulk is derived. 



48 SAVANN4H HER 



whether it be furnislied from native sources, or imported from abroad, though, 
even in that case, the advantage of possessing an internal supply, of which it is 
impossible to be deprived by the jealousy or hostilit}' of foreigners, must not be 
overlooked. But no nation can make any considerable progress in the manu- 
facture of bulky and heavy articles, the conveyance of which to a distance una- 
voidably occasions a large expense, unless she has supplies of the raw material 
within herself. Our superiority in manufactures depends more at this moment 
on our superior machines than on anything else; and had we been obliged to 
import the iron, brass and steel, of which they were principally made, it is ex- 
ceedingly doubtful whether we should have succeeded in bringing them to any- 
thing like the present pitch of improvement." 

•• But of all the physical circumstances that have contributed to our wonder- 
ful ])rogress in manufacturing industry, none has had nearly so much influence 
as our possession of the most valuable coal mines. These have conferred 
advantages on us not enjoyed in an equal degree by any other people. Even 
though we had possessed the most abundant supply of the ores of iron and other 
useful metals, they would have been of little or no use, but for our own almost 
inexhaustible coal mines." 

Water power was for a long time considered cheaper, especially for small 
manufacturing establishments, than steam power, but eminent engineers have 
carefully investigated the subject, and are of opinion that in any position where 
coal can be had "at ten cents per bushel," steam is as cheap as water power at 
its minimum cost. Steam, therefore, until superseded by some more effective 
agent, will be the power princij)ally relied upon to propel machinery, and as 
wood for the generation of steam upon an extensive scale is out of the question, 
we may safely conclude that at no very distant day the center of our manufac- 
tures will certainly be in or near a district possessing inexhaustible supplies of 
cheap coal. 

While we concede that coal is a more useful agent in manufactures, still it 
is equally essential that the supplies of raw material be near at hand, and we 
assert that it is cheaper to transport the coal to Savannah, even from Pennsyl- 
vania, and there is plenty of it nearer, than to send the raw cotton to New Eng- 
land to be made up. And so it is, despite the pre-eminence of New England, 
her glory is destined soon to be overshadowed, for the sceptre will, ere long, 
depart from Judah and fall into the hands of the cities of the South, for the 
virtues which make a great people are indigenous to our soil, and will animate 
and ennoble our population, whenever our capitalists and ingenious men have 
given its great physical advantages the fulfillment of this *' manifest destiny." 

With regard to the third point, viz.: favorable situation as respects com- 
merce with other countries, its importance is second only to that which we 
have just considered. It is in the nature of manufactures to be regardful of its 
markets, and to su})ply with cash the demands of these, as well as to obtain the 
raw material on easy terms. Therefore it is highly important that there should 
l)e a com])lete communication with all parts of the adjacent country by rail or 
river, and establish commerce, or facilities of commerce, therewith. 



TRADE, COMMERCE AND INDUSTRIES. 49 

A suitable climate is also a consideration of very great importance. The 
influence of climate upon the productiveness of industry, especially in manufac- 
tures is very marked. In very cold climates the powers of nature are benumbed, 
and the difficulty of preserving life overrides all consideration for making 
existence comfortable. Climate has also a direct influence upon the durability 
of buildings, the workings of machinery, etc., and thus becomes an element of 
important consideration in many kinds of manufactures. Most writers on the 
subject insist that the soil of a country or district well adapted to manufac- 
tures need be naturally very fertile, for when the soil is naturally so rich that 
agriculture is an easy art, it will not afford sustenance to many kinds of manu- 
factures. This, to us, seems a mistaken idea ; for it is reasonable to suppose 
that the cost of transportation to and from manufactories, outside, and we might 
say far removed from, the districts abounding in raw materials that enter large- 
ly into manufactures, could be obviated by the erection of similar manufactories 
nearer to hand. 

Let us now pass to examine the claims of Savannah to the position of 
a manufacturing center. While we do not claim that this city has all the 
requisites for a general manufacturing city, we do claim that for certain articles 
of manufactured goods we possess all the advantages necessary for the successful 
prosecution of such business. The centers of wealth, population and intelli- 
gence in the South are not numerous. Communities abounding in iron are few, 
but we have the raw material, the cotton, the wood, the timber. 

Our numerous streams roaring seaward as they go by fields white with the 
snow of Southern summers, have been long calling to us in vain to allow them 
to join in the universal anthem of social industry. As yet in Savannah there is 
not one factory in operation, although we have the raw material at hand to save 
us from buyer's and banker's commissions, freight, warehouseage, cartage, 
sampling, classing, marine and fire insurance, beside pilfering in various ways. 
The advantage in our favor in this way cannot be estimated at less than 15 per 
cent., which implies an annual loss to the people of the State of between two and 
three million dollars. The profits of well conducted Southern factories are so cer- 
tain and so great that the conversion by us of every pound of cotton into fabric is 
a mere question of time. The supply is, or could be, almost infinite ; and that the 
demand for cotton fabrics in the same ratio, grown within sight, as it were, of 
the factory walls, would cost the manufacturer much less than it does his Eastern 
rival, even at its minimum value at the mills of the latter. The wool of Georgia 
is unsurpassed ; flax, hemp and tobacco yield the best of crops. Kearly all of 
the cereals of the United States grow in Georgia. Almost all of the valuable 
varieties of forest trees grow in abundance in a close proximity, and are of easy 
access by rail or river. In fact, the view is propitious for the manufacturer and 
for the establishment of manufactures from every stand-point. The motives of 
freedom, the fertility of soil, salubrity of climate, facilities for commerce and 
manufactures, and ease of railroad and water transportation, are the natural advan- 
tages which invite the capitalist, the tradesman and the manufacturer of every 
clime and nationality to a home in our midst, to co-operate in the development 



50 SAVANNAH HER 



of its measureless resources, and to an enriching participation in its pros- 
perity. 

We will now proceed to enumerate some of the principal manufacturing 
industries of Savannah. 

RICE MILLS. 

The rice mills of Savannah are among the most important industrial con- 
cerns in the city. They confine their operations more especially to domestic 
crops, which are now consumed almost entirely in the United States, but it has 
been found that the supply invariably falls below the needs of the country. 
Although New Orleans leads all other cities in Georgia in this business, the 
mills are all kept busy when the crop is full. "We have four such mills. 

FLOUR MILLS. 

A few years ago the idea of establishing a flouring mill at Savannah was 
hooted at as an absurd innovation. Exchanges in rival cities ridiculed the 
temerity of the venturesome miller who would dare erect his smoke stack so far 
away from the grain supply. But the attempt was made, and the venture to-day 
is far beyond the experimental stage. A mill is now in successful operation in 
this city with all the modern improvements. 

In addition to this we have several grist mills doing a large business. 

CIGAR AND TOBACCO MANUFACTORIES. 

Savannah has twelve establishments for the manufacture of fine cigars and 
tobacco. Situated nearer to Cuba and other "West India points noted for the 
production of the best tobacco in the world for cigar manufacturing, the facili- 
ties here for obtaining the very best quality in the raw material is unsurpassed, 
if equalled, in the State. Thus located, Savannah commands a large portion of 
this trade, and is one of the best distributing markets in the country. The 
commission and jobbing trade, with heavy capital, is enabled to carry large 
stocks, and, with the forwarding facilities of rail and water, gives us superior 
advantages over other cities not so favorably situated. 

BOOT AND SHOE MANUFACTORIES. 

This branch of manufacture is carried on by a host of small concerns. The 
quality of the work turned out is the best that can be found in any city in the 
South, and the prices are always reasonable. 

BREAD AND CRACKER MANUFACTORIES. 

The increased manufacture of bread, biscuit and cracker goods in Savannah 
within the past few years has far exceeded the most sanguine hopes of those 
engaged in the business. Although there are, according to the City Directory, 
no less than twenty-three small bakeries scattered here and there throughout 
the city, and supplj'ing, for the most part, the demands of families, yet our data 
refers alone to those whose business is sufficiently large to enable us to classity 
them as wholesale manufacturers. Of these there are two extensive firms. 
The sales of these houses will aggregate, in round numbers, $500,000. 



TRADE, COMMERCE AND INDUSTRIES. 51 

SAW AND«PLANING MILLS. 

Ill our remarks on the resources in another part of our work we dwelt 
considerably on the superior quality of the Georgia pine. As a matter of course 
there are a number of firms in this city who handle and prepare timber for the 
market. All of these firms are making money, and there is room for as many 
more. The truth of this assertion can readily be acknowledged when we state 
that there are thousands of acres of rich timber land about us, as yet untouched, 
which can be drawn on in the grander conquests of that near and swift approach- 
ing future. The supply is unlimited, the demand great, transportation facilities 
are unexcelled, and all we want is capital to develop the grand timber resources 
of ours. 

Here we have two barrel manufacturers doing a large and prosperous 
business. 

Here we have a host of blacksmiths, all adding their might to the industrial 
prosperity of Savannah. 

Here we have five blank book manufacturers, and the work turned ,out is 
equal to that done in New York. Our merchants do not have to send abroad 
for their blank books. 

Here we have boiler makers and brass founders, brick manufacturers and 
awning and sail makers, doing a good business. 

Here we have carriage and buggy manufactures, and wagon, cart and bar- 
row makers. The quality of the work turned out is equal to that done in any 
other city. 

We have three iron foundries in Savannah, large concerns, which would be 
a credit to large Eastern or Western cities. , These concerns give employment 
to a number of men, and pay good wages. 

Here we have two companies manufacturing gas. Competition in this line 
works cheap gas, and the consumer gets all the benefits. 

We have furniture manufactories in Savannah; also their accompaniment, 
upholsterers. We have the wood to support a dozen large furniture manufac- 
tories. Let some capitalist " stick a pin " here. 

Here we have harness and saddle makers and horse-shoers, gunsmiths and 
locksmiths, all in successful operation, and in line to swell the grand aggregate 
of Savannah's manufactures. 

Here we have machine shops and marble works, milliners, mattress makers; 
millers, grist, flour and rice. 

We have establishments engaged in making sash, doors and blinds, and 
they pay special attention also to fancy scroll work and turning. The quality of 
their products is fully up to the standard established in other cities, and they 
ofier as great inducements to customers as can be obtained anywhere in America. 
Dwellings, oflUces, churches and public buildings are fitted by the trade in a style 
of taste and elegance unsurpassed elsewhere, and which has commanded the ad- 
miration of parties from abroad. As large as the demand is for home con- 
sumption, it by no means disposes of the material turned out by these establish- 



52 



SAVAKXAH HER 



ments, and large quantities of sash, window* blinds and general finishings for 
buildings, are shipped to other points. 

Here we have firms engaged in ship and boat building, with yards for the 
construction and repair of sea-going vessels and steamboats. 

CONCLUSION OF MANUFACTURES. 

In the brief space we had, we have noticed hurriedly a few of the leading 
lines of the manufactures of Savannah, but it must not be inferred that they 
constitute all, or even a principal part of our manufacturing industries. We 
have a vast variety of manufactures, great and small, that want of space has pre- 
vented us from mentioning specially, and it is a significant fact that in this great 
and important department of business there has not been a failure of any con- 
siderable magnitude in the entire history of the city. This, of itself, speaks an 
eloquence for the manufacturing advantages of Savannah more effective than any 
voice can command, or any pen can indite. Looking at the situation and sur- 
roundings of this city, considering its manufacturing advantages in the light of 
the great laws of industrial economy, no less than as experience in all, or nearly 
all the leading lines of mechanical production has shown them to be, we are 
profoundly impressed with the conviction that Savannah is to become a manu- 
facturing city. 

KEAL ESTATE INTERESTS IN SAA^INNAH. 

Concerning the real estate interests of this city, we take the following from 
the J^evjs, of September 1st, 1883: 

The condition of the real estate market in this city during the year under 
review has been one of steady increase in values. All classes of real property 
have advanced in value, and the prices of to-day as compared with those of a year 
ago will show an average advance of from 25 to 50 per cent. Some classes of 
property — notably vacant lots in the older portions of the city and in the ex- 
treme southern suburbs — siiow a much larger ])ercentage of enhancement b}' 
several fold than this, but the rate given is intended to represent an extremely 
conservative view of the average increase on all kinds of real estate in the city. 
In fancy pieces, such as desirable business stands or private residences, the price 
obtainable is limited by the ability of buyers to pay, as very full prices are easily 
obtainel for all such as are put upon the market. The year opened with a very 
general expectation of a much better business in other branches than was realiz- 
ed, and it became apparent very early in the year that there would be some 
disappointment in this particular, hence buyers were a little more wary about 
purchasing real estate than they otherwise would have been, and what the pub- 
lic has been pleased to call " a boom " did not assume the proportions it would 
have but for this excess of caution. This has acted as some check upon swelling 
the volume of transactions, which, though largely in excess of any two years 
since 1876, were curtailed by the causes just referred to. Notwithstanding this 
condition of afftvirs, all the elements for a greater advance of values existed, and 
during the last half of the year, as our people have been able to determine the 



TRADE, COMMERCE AND INDUSTRIES. 53 

results of the year's business, large investments have been made in real property 
in the city and county. 

The heaviest demand for property, however, has not been from the capital- 
ists and speculators, but from persons desiring homes or places of business for 
their own occupancy. Never, perhaps, in the history of our city have our people 
been so thoroughly possessed with the determination to own their own homes. 
This idea seems to have become incorporated in the warp and woof of every 
man's life, and to be the object of his exertions in business. This is not con- 
fined to one class of our citizens, but comprehends and permeates all classes and 
conditions. The demand covers every class of property, from the most palatial 
residence and handsomest store in our city to the humblest and cheapest home 
known to the business. Our merchants and professional men who have long 
since owned comfortable, staid residences, and whose prosperity now warrants 
something different, are purchasing more modern sites or buildings farther 
south, and by building and remodeling, securing for themselves residences 
more in keeping with their increased means and the advanced idea of comfort 
and elegance of the present day. The man of more moderate means who has 
heretofore rented is straining every nerve to owm his own home and rent no more. 

There are good reasons for the present condition of real estate matters in 
our city, and equally good ones for their continuance and improvement. Savan- 
nah was just recovering in a measure from the general prostration which follow- 
ed the panic of 1873 when we were visited by the terrible epidemic of 1876. 
The damaging effects of this set-back were greater and more lasting than any- 
thing, except the war, that had ever occurred in our history. Not only were 
our energies paralj'zed for a season, but worse still, public confidence was shaken 
as to the safety of our location for business purposes and for the investment of 
capital. The wonderful commercial strides made since by our city, its great 
recuperative energies manifested in every department of business, together with 
the determination evidenced by the authorities to prevent such a recurrence if 
possible, have all conspired to reinstate our locality in the confidence of the pub- 
lic. That this has been done is proven by the number of people who have (so 
to put it) taken permanent root here, and are investing their means in homes and 
business locations. If no other reason existed for the strength of real estate, 
this one fact should be sufficient to satisfy reasonable minds that we are only 
recovering lost ground. Nor have we yet regained what we have lost. It is a 
matter of fact known to real estate men and lawyers, who handle old deeds, that 
the prices obtained in the present day for property are in most cases less than 
the consideration named in deeds made from ten to thirty years ago. 

Eeal estate has been entirely neglected for some years by investors, and in 
the mad rush for wild-cat speculative stocks and bonds which has characterized 
the history of the last two years, the staid old investment of real estate has been 
left for a soberer period, when the excitement of speculation had spent itself. 
That time is now upon us, and the panic which some of our w^iseacres see dimly 
(!) in the distance is but the bursting of some of the bubbles of their own infla- 
tion, and cannot from the very nature of its evanescent character be w^idespread 



54 SAVANNAH HER 



or general in its eflPects. Even over guaranteed stocks and bonds — all of which 
are now at a high rate of premium — does real estate possess positive advantages- 
The permanent character of it as an investment, the appreciation in value which 
it must experience in a growing country, the better rate of net interest it pays, 
all recommend real property over personal. The fact that it is not subject to 
such violent and frequent fluctuations, and is beyond the control of directors and 
syndicates having power to reduce its value to a minimum price without let or 
hindrance, is a powerful factor for inducing men to leave the uncertain ways of 
incorporated stocks in favor of this class of property. 

Another reason for an advance in the price of property in this locality is found 
in the advance in rents during the past few j^ears. This advance was a 
healthy one, predicated upon the law of supply and demand, and made necessary 
by the reduction which had taken place after the epidemic as a result of that 
calamitv. Rents have never recovered that lost orround, but the advance that 
has been going on for some years, and which will continue, has forced upon 
thinking men the fact that it would pay them to be their own landlords; hence 
the demand, before referred to, which has sprung up for houses for the multitude 
to live in. We are all forced to study economy in souie measure, and the item 
of house rent is the first to receive attention at the hands of most men. The 
conclusion is then easily reached that it is an economic measure to save the 
profits realized by the owner of the house. The desire follows to be your own 
landlord, and the realization is made possible through the poor man's helper, 
the loan association. These institutions have been of incalculable benefit to Sa- 
vannah. The results of their work is the building up of all that part of the city 
south of Gaston street from east to west. Many a man in our midst owns his 
home, who but for their assistance would now be a hewer of wood and drawer of 
water, paying out the larger part of his monthly earnings for a shelter for his 
family and barely eking out an existence. These associations have been of great 
help to men of larger means who could aftbrd to pay a considerable sura out per 
month in order to secure a comfortal)le home, but who could not affbrd to 
jeopardize their business by taking out the amount necessary to build a home 
from their own capital. Again have these associations been useful in assisting 
men to accumulate wealth in the matter of purchasing or building that class of 
houses which very nearly or entirely pay their own way through the loan asso- 
ciations, and at its termination leave them possessed of the property clear. In 
this way have some of our citizens amassed wealth and added materially to the 
taxable property of the city. In these ways, and in others, have loan associations 
become important factors in building up our city, and in increasing the demand 
for real estate by simplifying the attaining of it. 

In specifying the reasons for the present and a continued advance in real 
estate (and of rents), we should not lose sight of the gradual yet certain in- 
crease of population which is continually going on. Our people are wondering 
why it is that with the large number of houses that have been and are still being 
built that there are no houses fur rent, and that greater difticulty is experienced 
each year in getting houses. Our population has quietly yet surely increased, 



TRADE, C03VEVIERCE AJTO IlfDUSTRIES. 55 

showing from 5,000 to 8,000 additional souls in the last few years; yet because 
our old fogy citizens did not see them all come in at one time they cannot admit 
their presence, and expect them to live in the same houses that 35,000 used to 
live in. This increase must continue, for despite what rivals may say of our 
community it is a pleasant place to live in. Our people are hospitable and sociable 
to the extent that active business will admit. A living is as easily made here as 
in any place in the country if men are willing to work for it. Labor of every 
kind is better remunerated and more generally respected and protected than in 
the North, and as well, if not better, than in most places in the South. Our 
climate is pleasant and healthy, M^hich latter fact is proven by the mortuary re- 
ports of our city, which are open to the world for inspection. Reasons might be 
multiplied which render Savannah a pleasant and profitable place in which to 
live and rear a family, but to say more on this subject would be too great a di- 
gression. 

In the consideration of the subject of real estate in Savannah, sufficient 
prominence has not been given to our improved condition as a community, as 
one of the elements of strength in the market. The financial solidity for which 
Savannah has always been noted is greater and more stable to-day than it ever 
was. While we have fewer millionaires than some communities further North, 
yet we are in a better condition, because the wealth of the town is more evenly 
distributed, and there are a great number of persons possessing moderate means 
and fewer extremely wealthy. This increase of wealth by slow accumulations 
gives us a population with a vast purchasing ability. The tax digest unfortun- 
ately is not the means of acquiring this information. But daily operations on 
the street will prove it, as will the presentation of any scheme which promises 
safe returns and good management call forth ample and liberal responses of 
capital. Savannah is rich in her resources of capital, and the best informed 
upon the subject know that the custodians of it are not to be found only in the 
recognized marts of the city, but frequently in unpretentious corners. 

Real estate may properly be considered the barometer of a city's prosperity. 
The state of the whole business of the community is indicated by the condition 
of its real estate market. Unpromising, indeed, must be the future of that com- 
munity whose real estate is not wanted, and is declining. Therefore, how blind 
to patriotism and all else but selfish purposes are those of our croaking citizens 
who can see nothing in the present advance in real estate but the inflation of a 
bubble that may burst next week or next month. If they are prophets, then, 
indeed, must all the signs of the time prove delusive. Everywhere in the South, 
and particularly in our own glorious State, every town or city having anything 
in position or natural advantages upon which to predicate progress has taken on 
this boom long before we did. Improvements, building unprecedented and ap- 
preciation of values are perceptible on every hand in Macon, Augusta, Atlanta, 
Rome, Oolumbus, and numerous smaller places. Savannah is really behind the 
times in many particulars, and is the last to feel the effects of this wave. With 
wise, economical legislation in our municipal and county affairs, intelligent and 
liberal policy on the part of our merchants and railroad officials, there need be 



56 SAVANNAH HER 



no apprehension of the future of our citj. We have all the elements for making 
a large and prosperous business community, and the fault will be in our own 
borders if this reasonable expectation be not realized. 

The conclusion of the whole matter is this : The nature of the demand for 
real estate and the cause creating that demand, the future outlook and the gen- 
eral prosperity that exists, are the elements of strength in the market. Our city 
surveyor says that never in our history have there been so many new buildings 
erected as in the last year. The end of another year will see a great increase in 
this particular. The bugbear of heavy taxation is becoming to be understood 
by our own people, and by proper effort on our part it may be made intelligent 
to outsiders, so that they may be induced to invest in our midst. It will be 
necessary, however, either to have the sj'stem re-adjusted by our City Fathers, or 
for them to advertise the fact that the city tax of three per cent, means upon a 
valuation of many times less than the market value of the property, and that it 
oftentimes amounts to but two per cent. ( and sometimes less ) upon a fair val- 
uation. 

SAVANNAH AS A PLACE OF RESIDENCE. 

To those who have glanced over the contents of the preceding pages it is 
hardly necessary to say here that it is not our intention to enter into anything 
like a detailed history of Savannah, or to attempt to describe the city with any 
degree of minuteness of particularity. Such a work would not only be entirely 
foreign to the nature and objects of this publication, but would itself exceed by 
many hundred pages the proper limits of the present volume. As we have said 
in the beginning, the principal purpose we have in view in issuing this work is 
to make known, as broadly as we may, as broadly as the enterprise and public 
spirit of our citizens will justify, what we conceive to be the unusual and extra- 
ordinary advantages possessed by Savannah to become one of the greatest, if not 
the greatest, of commercial and manufacturing cities in the South; to show by 
reason of these superior advantages, not only that almost every line of commerce 
and manufacture can be follt>wed here with equal or greater success of profit 
than elsewhere, but that, for the same reason, this is the best market for the pro- 
ducer, and, at the same time, the cheapest market for the retail purchaser. If 
we shall succeed in accomplishing this — we may say by way of parenthesis^ 
even to a limited extent, capital and population, trade and business of all kinds 
will flow in upon us as naturally as the waters of our rivers flow into the sea. 
Hence this work is addressed to business men almost exclusively, and in such 
a work nothing could be more out of place than a long drawn-out story of the 
successive pulse beats of the city from the beginning to the present time. 

The PRESENT and the future concern us most. That we have made giant 
strides in growth and development, in population and wealth, since the evening 
of the last day that the smoke of battle passed away, let us hope forever, all the 
world knows. • 

CLIMATE or SAVANNAH. 

Probably the most essential physical advantage of a city lies in its climate 
— a climate favorable to vigor of mind and health of body. The climate of 



TRADE, COMMERCE AKD INDUSTRIES. 57 

Savannah, like other portions of our country, has undergone important changes 
within a half century, ice is a thing that is seldom seen. Sometimes the early 
riser may see a thin coating of ice on the gutters, but it never remains until 
mid-day. Sleighing and skating hereabouts are things decidedly out of the 
question, in fact the weather during January is as genial as Spring. In the 
summer the thermometer sometimes rises for a few consecutive days above 95 
degrees; but the temperature invariably diminishes sensibly after sunset, the 
nights being generally comfortable and refreshing, and often delightful. 

PURITY OF WATER IN SAVANNAH. 

Since water, like climate, has a sanitary bearing on a city's advantages, it is 
of the highest importance to every community to have a bountiful supply of that 
good and wholesome beverage so freely bestowed b}^ God himself to "beautify 
the earth and nourish and invigorate his creatures. " The supply of water fur- 
nished to the citizens of Savannah is adequate to the demand at the present 
time, and, when filtered, the quality is acknowledged to be most excellent. The 
water works were commenced in the winter of 1852-3. The water is taken from 
the river above the city and carried into a reservoir ( situated on the low lands 
west of the Ogeechee canal), which is divided into four compartments by walls 
of masonry, pierced by connecting culverts, with strong gates, so that one of the 
compartments may be used while the other three are undisturbed for the pro- 
gress of sedimentary precipitation; each compartment is connected in like 
manner with the "pump well," from which the water is forced up into the 
distributing reservoir in the city, through iron pipes, by means of powerful 
steam lift and force pumps. The receiving reservoir is about half a mile above 
the city, the tower or distributing reservoir being located in Franklin Square. 
The "lift" of the pumps is about one hundred and twenty feet — forty feet to the 
level of the city, and eighty feet from that level to the iron tank at the top of 
the tower. At the time of their construction, the estimated supply to the city 
was sixty gallons jcer c«j)i^a every twenty-four hours. In addition to the water 
works, nearly every store house and dwelling has its cistern filled with rain 
water, and what liquid surpasses i\\eaqua pura — God's free gift from the clouds 
of heaven? In each of the public squares is located a well, and they are exten- 
sively used by the public. 

HEALTHFULNESS OF SAVANNAH. 

The comparative healthfulness of various cities has been made a subject of 
careful observation by physicians and others for more than a half century, and 
many cities have not even hesitated to prevaricate — to draw it mildly — concern- 
ing so serious a subject; but in all candor we assert that in a sanitary point of 
view Savannah is highly favored, and the tables of mortality (leaving out the 
negroes, who are, as a class, dirty and careless of their health and comfort) have 
uniformly shown that Savannah is one of the healthiest cities in the United 
States. That more than Egyptian plague, the yellow fever, has now almost 
ceased to claim an existence, though so great is the power of prejudice that the 
idea of its presence at particular seasons will probably never be banished from 



58 SAVANNAH HER 



the minds of tliose who now look upon a visit to this city after the month of 
April as an omen of certain death. The ravages of this dreadful scourge of 
humanity in past times may be traced to the inexperience of physicians, who at 
that time felt their utmost skill and ingenuity provokingly baffled by an agency 
which subsequent experience has almost entirely disarmed of its destructive 
powers. The vigilance of the city authorities has in late years proved successful 
in removing those local causes of disease, and prohibiting the introduction of 
foreign elements of mischief, to such an extent as to provide for the public 
health an ample measure of securing during the seasons most subject to their 
influences. 

Instances of longevity are not at all rare among the citizens of Savannah. 
There are still living a respectable number of persons who were ushered in 
with the present century, and a few who date their birth in the century preced- 
ing this. Some are actively engaged in the every-day business of life, and 
enjoying a degree of health to which many of their grandsons and daughters 
would be glad to attain. 

The rapid strides which the temperance reformation has been making 
towards the remodeling of public sentiment with respect to "genteel dissipa- 
tion," that deceitful and alluring, but no less destructive bane of the higher 
classes, are the gradual lessons of past experience which have developed the true 
sources of social degeneracy and waning domestic prosperity. Where habits of 
temperance have been formed in early youth, it is not unusual in Savannah to 
find cases of individuals who have lived very little short of an entire century, 
whose mental and bodily faculties remain as fresh as in the vigor of man- 
hood. 

POPULATION OF SAVANNAH. 

The census of 1880 gives the population of this city at 30,681. From a 
careful canvas we are enabled to put the present population at 42,000, and we are 
of the opinion that we are not far out of the way, and that our estimate is likely 
to be an under-estimate than it is an over-estimate. Of the foreign population, 
the Germans predominate; next come the Irish, followed by the Italian, English, 
Scotch, Welsh, French, and nearly every other nationality where emigration is 
possible, including the Chinese and Egyptians. Thus it will be seen that our 
population is eminently cosmopolitan. This, so far from being an objection, we 
reo-ard with great satisfaction, since it has the effect not only to multiply the 
number of industries pursued among us, but it gives us a practical knowledge of 
customs, wants and trade of every nation of the globe. For every want and 
every trade we have a class of nationality adapted to it. Everything is repre- 
sented among us, from the metaphysics and beer of the Germans to the red- 
signed washee-washee of the Chinese. 

SOCIETY OF SAVANNAH. 

As would be expected, all classes of society are represented here. We have 
in our city some of the most refined and cultivated people to be found anywhere, 
and, unfortunately, some of whom the least that can be said is the best. No mat- 



TRADE, COMMERCE AND INDUSTRIES. 59 

ter to what class of people one may belong, he will have no reason to echo the sad 
reflection of Byron : " I am among them, but not of them." All may find con- 
genial and kindred spirits here. Upon the whole, however, no city can boast of 
better society than Savannah. Many of our best families are descended from 
the earliest and most distinguished characters in the history of American Inde- 
pendence. Identified with the city and the South from an early day, they have 
grown in wealth and prosperity with the growth and improvement of the 
country. Nor have mental culture and social refinement been neglected. For 
many years Savannah was noted for the possession of some of the best institutions 
of learning to be found in the South. With all these advantages, it would be 
strange indeed if our best society did not reflect honor upon the city. Gentle 
of birth and ambitious of learning, refined by nature and hospitable to a fault, 
possessed of great wealth and enthusiastic lovers of art, they constitute an ordre 
de monde in which the most brilliant devotee of letters and fashion may find 
companionship worthj^ of his highest taste. All the better classes of society are 
liberal in their ideas, and welcome all among them who are worthy of confidence 
and esteem. Those who have come among us in late years have been gladly 
received into our social circles, and many of them are now the leaders of society 
in wealth, culture and public spirit. Indeed, a number of our leading families, 
families whose recognition and hospitality would honor any guest, however high 
in fame or state, are those who have won their position within a recent period by 
their own merit and character. Thus while our personne de qualite are 
eminentl}'^ select and rigidly strict in the observance of all the finer convention- 
alities of good society, they are generously democratic when merit knocks for 

admission. 

"Like the sun true merit shows; 

By nature warm, by nature bright; 
Witli inbred flames lie nobly glows, 

Nor needs the aid of borrow' d light." 

CHURCHES AND RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS. 

As in everything else we .have been able to show the prominence of this 
favored city; so too, in the relation she bears toward the Church of the Ever- 
Living God, and the interest her citizens manifest and have manifested in 
religious afiairs, can we report mostfavorabl3^ The existence of such a spirit at 
once stamps the moral character and excellence of her people, and the devotees 
of religion in other quarters will rejoice to learn that in ''laying up for them- 
selves treasures on earth," our people have not surrendered to a sordid lust for 
gain ; that instead of the temple for worship they do not resort solely to the 
"exchange," where the ledger is held, the sacred books and household gods are 
converted into money investments. Satisfied with the stream, they have not 
forgotten the fountain ; engrossed with the augmentation of mercantile resources, 
they have not become blind to the primary, originating source of whatever is 
desirable on earth ; and the stranger will find that the same piety which erected 
the first small church over a century ago has difi'used itself and kept pace with 
our rise and progress. As a church-going and church-loving people, Savannah 



60 SAVANNAH — HER 



to-day, in proportion to inhabitants, is second to but few if any cities of the 
Union. In every quarter of the city the spires of the churches pierce the clouds, 
and the deep-toned organ's solemn swell, the sound of the bells, are neither 
strange nor unfamiliar to us. Burke never uttered a grander truth than when 
he said : "True religion is the foundation of society. When that is once shaken 
by contem])t the whole fabric cannot be stable or lasting." In this important 
respect Savannah is peculiarly fortunate. Every shade of IJiblical faith has a 
strong representation among us. Our people are pre-eminently a church-going, 
religion-respecting community. 

In strength of membership the Methodist, including five colored churches, 
stands lirst ; next in order come the Episcopal, Baptist, Presbyterian and Roman 
Catholic, followed by the Jewish, the Lutheran, and so on to the end. We only 
give the denominational names of the principal divisions. 

None of these denominations are w^ithout one or more church edifices. 
Some of these buildings are among the finest structures ever dedicated to the 
service of religion by a pious and generous people. 

Among the most interesting and noteworthy church buildings is Christ 
Church, which faces Johnson Square and is situated between St. Julian and 
Congress Streets, it being the mother parish of the Episcopal communion in the 
Diocese of Georgia. The original structure built on this spot was commenced 
in 1743 and was completed in 1750. It was destroyed by fire in 1796, was re- 
built upon an enlarged plan in 1803, and afterward injured by a hurricane, but 
was rebuilt. An entirely new edifice was commenced in 1838, the drawings 
being furnished by Mr. James Hamilton Cowper, of St. Simon's Island, The 
chancel railing, lecterns, table and stalls are carved, and over the table is a 
painted window to the memory of Bishop Elliott, given by the Sunday-school 
children, and representing Christ blessing little children. On this site stood the 
chapel in which John Wesley, "The Father of Methodism," preached to the 
early settlers. 

The new Lutheran Church is situated on the east side of Wright Square, 
between State and President Streets, and is unfinished. The old building M'as 
built in 1843 and the present one was erected over it, while service was held 
within the walls of both. In the rear of the pulpit is a memorial window to 
Thomas Purse. The carpenter work of the interior was done by the young 
men of the congregation after the close of their usual daily duties. 

At the corner of South Broad and Bull Streets stands the Independent 
Presbyterian Church, which was commenced in 1815 and dedicated four years 
later by its pastor. There are few churches in the L'^nion that surpass this one 
in the excellence of architectural merits. President James Monroe, on a visit to 
Savannah, assisted, with his suite, at the ceremonies when it was consecrated to 
divine worship in 1819. 

To the west of Chippewa Square and on the corner of JjuII and Hull Streets 
is the Savannah Baptist Church, which was built in 1833 and enlarged in 1839. 
The Sunday-school and lecture rooms are in the basement, and a pastor's home 
was purchased for its ministers in 1862. 



TRADE, COMMERCE AND IJTDUSTRIES. 61 



The synagogue Mickva Israel is located to the east end of Monterey Square, 
between Wayne and Gordon Streets. The corner stone was laid in March, 1876, 
and the completed edifice was dedicated in April, 1878. The architecture of 
both interior and exterior is mediaeval in character, and there is not a finer or 
more pleasing structure in the city than this place for worship of God's ancient 
people. There was an immigration of Israelites to Savannah in 1733, who 
remained but a short time, but it is supposed that this congregation was then 
organized. There are no records of its history prior to the charter of November 
30, 1790. 

The cathedral of our Lady of Perpetual Help, at the corner of Abercorn 
and Harris Streets, is the largest and most imposing church edifice in the entire 
State. The architecture is French Gothic, in the style of JN"otre Dame, of Paris. 
Three fine altars of white marble, elegantly carved, have been placed within the 
sanctuary, and above the altar of the Virgin is an excellent copy of Murillo's 
" Immaculate Conception." This noble structure was dedicated to the service 
of God in 1876. 

On the west side of St. James Square, between President and York Streets 
stands "Old Trinity," as it is sometimes called, from its associations with the 
early history of Methodism in Savannah. Two thousand persons can be seated in 
the auditorium and galleries. The interior is neat and plain, corresponding with 
the simplicity of the exterior. 

SUNDAY-SCHOOLS. 

Connected with most of the churches of the city are interestine- and flourish- 
ing Sunday-schools, where many hundreds of the children and youths of the 
city are gathered each Sabbath-day to be instructed in the great truths of the 
Bible, and in the religious and moral duties of life. It would be impossible to 
over-estimate the beneficent influence these schools have on the community. 
JSTurseries of religion, and of virtue and good citizenship, they are justly 
cherished by our people as the safest guardians of their children's characters, 
and the surest guarantees for their future. If it is possible for the departed 
dead to witness the progress of human afiairs, the spirit of the founder of Sab- 
bath-schools could behold no happier sight than the assemblage of all the Sunday- 
school children of Savannah in one grand union meeting. We are proud of 
our Sunday-schools, and justly so. No pains are spared by the teachers and 
officers, no expense withheld by the parents and churches, to make them worthy 
of our city and society. 

EDUCATIONAL. 

PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF SAVANNAH. 

Education is the mortar that holds the social fabric together. Without it 
civilization would crumble to the earth. Keligion itself would be lost in the 
Cimmerian darkness of ignorance and superstition. Pythagoras puts the neces- 
sity of education in strong language: "He that knoweth not that which he 
ought to know is a brute among men; he that knoweth no more than he hath 
need of is a man among beasts; and he that knoweth all that may be known is 
a god among men." 



62 SAVANNAH HER 



Greece, the bright, particular star in tlie old dark canopy of antiquity, the 
mother of the arts and the sciences, was first to declare the necessity of educa- 
tion. Her own proud fame she owed to learning; but, unfortunately for her, 
she flourished in an age when the equality of men, the crowning glory of modern 
times, was unknown. She fostered education, but the education only of her 
higher classes. Her common people, constituting four-fifths of her population, 
were left in ignorance. This was her fatal mistake. "A grievous fault it was, 
and grievously hath she paid it." 

Education of the higher classes was carried to Rome. She, too, neglected 
her common people, and Rome, as Rome, is no more. A dark wave of ignorance 
and rapine swept over the world. All seemed to be lost. Suddenly a light 
flashed athwart the Western heavens, and Reformation stood revealed. The 
trumpet voice of Martin was heard, proplaiming the grand truth: '"Govern- 
ment, as the natural guardian of all the young, has the right to compel the peo- 
ple to support schools. That which is necessary to the well-being of a State 
should be supported by those who enjoy the privileges of the State. Now, nothing 
is more necessary to this than the training of those who are to come after us." 

Here the principle of free popular education was first proclaimed. Here it 
was given birth and life, Holland and Scotland hastened to appl}^ it. Both 
countries claim the imperishable honor of having been first to introduce it. 
The result of their foresight and wisdom was, that for ages after these nations 
were regarded as the most intelligent and thrifty people in Europe. What- 
ever they applied themselves to they excelled in. Macaulay bears elo- 
quent testimony of the race superiority of the Scotch. From Europe the prin- 
ciple of popular education was brought to America ; Maryland, New York, 
Connecticut and Massachusetts all contend for the proud distinction of natu- 
ralizing it here. Maryland doubtless had the first free municipal schools, fol- 
lowed by the others, in the order named; but Massachusetts was the first to 
establish the State system of free schools, since adopted by all or nearly all 
the States, To her, unquestionably, belongs this imperishable honor. The 
Northeastern and the Northern States were next to adopt it. The benefits 
it has conferred upon them are well known. Previous to the late war, pri- 
vate academies were almost exclusively patronized by the people of Savan- 
nah, but at its close the uncertain condition and prospects of our citizens 
caused greater reliance to be placed upon the free-school sj'stem. Some 
trouble arose between the Catholics and Protestants, which was amicably set- 
tled by assigning separate school buildings to the Catholics. They nominate 
their own teachers, which are confirmed by the Board of Education on pass- 
ing a required examination. From the beginning our schools have been under 
the management of the ablest scholars to be had. 

Doubtless a better idea can be formed of the importance and efficiency of 
our public schools from a few leading facts and an outline of the system. The 
Board of Education consists of the following gentlemen : George. A, Mercer, 
president; Dr. J. B, Reed, vice-president; John Williamson, treasurer; W. Hun- 
ter, J, R, Saussy, S. Y. Levy, John A. Douglass, J. O. Ferrell, William Duncan, 



TRADE, COMMERCE AKD INDUSTRIES. 63 

M. D., E. E. Lester, S. P. Hamilton and Kobert D. Walker; Mr. W. H. Baker 
being secretary and superintendent. The office is situated in Chatham acade- 
my, corner of Drayton and South Broad Streets. The schools are free, with the 
exception of the high schools, three dollars per month being charged by these. 
The boys' and girls' high schools, and the Chatham academy gramamr school, 
are held in the Chatham academy building, a portion of which is used as an hotel. 
The Barnard Street School, at the corner of Barnard and Taylor Streets, is occu- 
pied by the second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth grades, each grade being under 
the instruction of a separate teacher. The Cathedral Grammar School is 
situated at the corner of Abercorn and Perry Streets, and is attended by the 
children of Catholic parents. The Massie District School is located at the 
corner of Gordon and Abercorn; the St. Patrick's School, at the corner of 
Montgomery and York Streets, the latter being devoted to the use of Catholic 
children also. For the attendance of colored children are placed the East and 
West Broad Street Schools, which are provided with competent teachers. There 
are comparatively few male teachers in the employ of the board, it being the 
policy to appoint males as principals only. 

In the list of academies and schools comes the Academy St. Yincent De 
Paul Convent, at the corner of Liberty and Abercorn, a boarding and day school, 
under control of the Sisters of Mercy; the Georgia Military Academy, on 
Abercorn, south of Huntingdon Street; the Sacred Heart School, on St. James, 
between Habersham and Price; and the Savannah Academy, at No. 86 Bull 
Street. To these, in addition, are the following schools for the colored people: 
The Beach Institute, at the corner of Price and Harris Streets, organized in 1867, 
and under the control and care of the American Missionary Society; the Georgia 
Military Cadet School, at the corner of East Broad and Harris Streets; the St. 
Joseph Academy, at the corner of Habersham and Charlton Lane, which is under 
control of the Sisters of Mercy; and the Sacred Heart School, for colored 
children, in the basement of the Church of the Sacred Heart, which is conducted 
by the Sisters. 

OHAEITIES OF SAYANNAH. 

"And now abideth faith, hope and charity, these three; but the greatest is cliarity." 

Charity, the firstborn of heaven, is the divine essence within us. It is that 
which forms us in the image of our Maker. It is the manifestation of God 
himself incarnate in man. It is the lamp that lights our pathway through life 
and leads us on to heaven. 

The mission of Charity is gentleness and love. It visits the poor and con- 
soles the friendless. It rests the weary and shelters the homeless. It feeds the 
hungry and clothes the destitute. It soothes the sick and comforts the sorrow- 
ing. The widow and the orphan are its wards. Its rule of life, "Love thy 
neighbor as thyself." Its admonition, " Though I speak with the tongues of 
men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become sounding brass and a 
tinkling cymbal." In the bright galaxy of virtues, philanthrophy, benevolence, • 
kindness, sympathy, generosity and mercy, it is the central, radiant star. It is 
the beginning and the end of all virtues. 



64 SAVANNAH HER 



It breaks tlie honds of avariciousness and selfishness, and ^ives with a will- 
ing and generous hand. It strives for the moral culture and elevation of man- 
kind. It has given its apostles and its evangelists, its missionaries and martyrs, 
its ministers and priests to humanity without money and without price. It 
animates the patriot and inspires the philosopher. It is the source of every 
generous impulse, the fountain of every noble aspiration. It is the salvation 
and hope of society. It is the virtue preservative of all virtues. • It is the 
visible presence of God on earth. 

In Savannah, Charity has erected a number of institutions, among which are 
the following asylums and hospitals : Abraham's Home, Xo. 2 Broughton 
Street, a Jewish institution for destitute widows ; the Episcopal Orphan Home, 
at the corner of Liberty and Jefferson, organized in 1854 ; the Female Orphan 
Asylum, at the corner of Bull and Charlton, established in 1839 ; the Indus- 
trial Relief Society and the Home for the Friendless, at the corner of Drayton 
and Charlton Streets, incorporated in 1849, and organized in 1875; the Minnie 
Mission Orphan Asylum, a home for infants, at the corner of Jones and Lincoln 
Streets ; St. Joseph's Infirmary, at the corner of Taylor and Habersham Streets, 
in charge of the Sisters of Mercy — it was organized in June, 1875, and is sup- 
ported by voluntary contributions andpay patients ; the Savannah Hospital, at 
the corner of Huntingdon and Drayton Streets, first incorporated in 1835, and 
the Union Society, instituted in 1750, the Orphan House being located at 
Bethesda. The Georgia Infirmary is provided for the colored people, and is 
situated east of White Bluff" road, near the tollgate. 

The list of Relief and Benevolent Associations is as follows : Citizens' 
Sanitary Association, organized for the better protection of the public health ; 
German Friendly Society ; Hebrew Benevolent Society ; Hibernian Society ; 
Metropolitan Benevolent Association ; St. Andrew's Society ; St. Patrick's 
Benevolent Society; Savannah Benevolent Association; Savannah, Florida and 
Western Railway Employees' Mutual Relief Association, organized for the 
relief of its members in case of sickness or accident ; Savannah Port Society; 
Societe Francaise de Bienfaisance ; Union Society, founded by George White- 
field, organized in 1750; Workingmen's Benevolent Association ; Workingmen's 
Literary and Relief Association. 

The Secret Societies are well represented among us. We have five lodges 
of Master Masons and five lodges for colored people, a Knights Templar, R. and 
S. M. and Royal Arch being also represented here. There are five lodges and 
one encampment of the I. O. O. F., also an Odd Fellows' General Relief Com- 
mittee ; five lodges of the Knights of Pythias, two of Knights of Honor, two of 
A. O. U. W., one of A. O. IL, one of Catholic Knights of America, one of 
Knights of the Golden Rule, one of D. O. II., one of I. O. G. T., one of S. of T., 
two of L O. B. B., two of O. K. S. B., one Royal Arcanum, one Home Circle and 
one American Legion of Honor. 

PARKS OF SAVANNAH. 

Love of the beautiful is implanted in our natures ; it is a natural sentiment 
of the human heart. It finds expression among savages in their desire for 



TRADE, COMMERCE AND IJTDUSTRIES. 65 

personal adornment, and in their conception of the happy huntin^^ ground ; in 
its rudest form, indeed, but manifesting its presence nevertheless. So in all 
races of men and among all nations it has revealed itself in one form or another. 
Like all the finer and nobler sentiments, it too is broadened, refined and elevated 
by the advancement and culture of the people ; and when a high degree of 
enlightenment and refinement is attained, it displays itself in various forms — 
in appreciation of articles of virtu, in love of sculpture, in admiration of the 
productions of the artist's brush, in the charms of natural scenery, in the 
beauties of landscape gardening, and in a thousand other forms unnecessary to 
mention. Indeed, love of the beautiful, or aesthetics as it is called, is regarded 
as the safest criterion of the social elevation of a people. It is found in its 
highest conception only in the most polished and finished communities. 

To say that it obtains here in a high degree, as illustrated by the well 
recognized taste of our people in all matters of art and natural beauty, is but to 
repeat a well-known fact. In truth, pages might be occupied, if our space 
permitted, with proofs that in many instances we have given it its highest 
expression. In the present connection, however, we will speak only of the taste 
of our people as displayed in the embellishment and ornamentation of our 
public parks. 

The ideal park is two-fold in its conception, (1) to delight the mind and (2) 
to refresh the body. In fact, whatever afibrds the mind a natural, healthful 
pleasure necessarily refreshens both the mind and the body. So that the first, the 
making a pleasant impression on the mind, must be regarded as of the first 
importance. Whatever appears out of place, or unnatural, or awkward in a park, 
to that extent defeats the very object which it was designed to accomplish. On 
the other hand, the pleasurable emotions intended to be aroused may be multi- 
plied and intensified by increasing and blending the natural and artificial 
attractions, having proper regard for the efiects produced by harmony, variety, 
etc. 

Nothing speaks plainer in language for the culture or vulgarity of a 
community than the style of its parks, for popular taste is the arbitrary umpire 
that regulates and controls them, whatever officials or single individuals may 
say or think. Parks, like actors, must please the public when they appear, or 
fail. 

The benefits they confer upon a community are incalculable ; indeed, they 
are indispensable to a large city. A large number of our people are compelled 
to remain in the city from year to year, and if they had nothing to relieve the 
dull monotony and wear and tear of daily business life, their lots would be hard 
in the extreme ; besides, the women and children, and especially the children, 
would suffer incalculably. The absence of parks has a marked effect upon the 
mortality of the people ; the increase of deaths among children, as shown by the 
investigation of the park officials of New York, in localities far removed from 
the parks, is almost incredible. Their sanitary importance, in fact, is always 
relied upon, and justly so, too, as the chief reason for providing them in all 
larere cities. 



66 SAVANNAH HER 



Our parks are four in number the most attractive one being Forsyth Park, 
the main entrance of which is on Gaston Street, opposite BiilL It contains 
twenty acres, and was laid out in 1853, its arrangements being similar to that of 
the Grand Park of the City of Mexico. A handsome iron fence surrounds the 
grounds, and the gates fronting on Bull Street are surrounded witli unexploded 
shells, relics of the late civil war. The entrance to the broad central walk is 
guarded by sphinxes, from which a fine view of the fountain which occupies 
the center of the park can be obtained. This fountain cost the city $3,000, and 
is said to have been modelled after the design that took the prize at the first 
international exhibition in London, in 1844. Walks are laid out in all direc- 
tions from the center, and clumps of roses, coleas, cacti, dahlias and fanciful 
mounds and structures of ivy and other running and climbing plants, and a 
statue of Mercury, and vases of flowers are all placed in the spaces between the 
trees, which are the native forest pine, and are so thick that the entire grounds 
are shaded. This is one of the handsomest parks in the South, and an extension 
has been recently added, containing about thirty acres. This extension is not 
improved as yet, but the Confederate monument, erected to the memory of the 
Confederate dead, or who died of wounds received in the late civil war, adorns 
the center. It is now the drill and parade ground for the volunteer soldiery of 
Savannah, but when the plans for making it a riding park are completed, the 
city will possess a l)eautiful pedestrian and riding pleasure grounds combined. 

In the suburb known as Brownsville is situated Battery Park, at the 
terminus of the Barnard and Anderson Street Railway. The directors of this 
railway purchased this site from the city, and the grounds occupy a portion of 
an earthwork for a battery throwm up during the civil war for the defense of 
the city. Upon the crest of the earthwork is a pavilion for dancing, from which 
a view of the surrounding country is obtained. Picnics and other social parties 
meet here in the warm summer weather ; a good rifle range for target shooting 
is provided, and street cars leave Market Square every eight minutes for the 
park. 

Concordia Park is situated at the east side of White Bluff" road, south of 
the toll-gate. 

Situated on Warsaw or Thunderbolt River, about three miles from the cit}' 
and directly east of Bonaventure, is Schuetzen Park, prepared by our German 
citizens, who delight in out-door recreations. It occupies a bluff' over-looking 
the river, which is quite broad at this point, and a fine view is obtained of both 
Bonaventure and Thunderbolt, which are below on the same river. There is a 
large dancing pavilion which will accommodate a thousand dancers, rifle 
ranges, swings, ten pin alleys, saloon and convenient dwelling in the center of 
the grounds. This park is the headquarters of the Scheutzen and other German 
organizations, and the annual "Scheutzen Fest," which is always anticipated 
with pleasure by all classes, is held here, and attracts visitors from all parts of 
the country. It can be reached by the trains of the Coastline railroad, and 
a smooth shell road leads direct to the park. 



TRADE, COMMERCE AND INDUSTRIES. 67 

STREETS OF SAVANNAH. 

Few advantages are jnore important to the prosperity of a city than 
good streets. They are to it what circulation is to the human body. Business 
life cannot long continue without them. Suffer them to become impaired, and 
every interest is more or less affected. What a story a year's trade with good 
streets compared with defective ones would tell ! Tbe loss a city sustains by 
neglect of its streets is incalculable. Good streets should be made a sine qua 
nonixi every city where the science of commerce is not an unexplored mystery. 
They are the channels through which the life current flows. 

The present condition of our streets is not a subject of unqualified praise. 
Like most of our sister cities, with regard to their streets, we think ours are not 
all they should be. Still, they compare very favorably with those of other 
Southern cities, and in some respects are superior to them. In the resident 
part of the city they are fringed on either side with rows of handsome shade 
trees, and it is from the number and stateliness of these shade trees that 
Savannah is styled "The Forest City." The streets and intermediate lanes, 
cutting each other at right angles, divide the city into rectangular squares, with 
small parks at the alternate intersections of the streets, which are much admired. 
The plan was designed by Gen. Oglethorpe, and the square with each ward and 
tithing was the general rendezvous of the colonists living around it in case of 
hostile attack by Indians or Spaniards. Once commenced, the system was 
adhered to for its regularity, beauty, comfort, health and pleasure. 

Bull street is the fashionable promenade of the city. It receives its name 
from Colonel William Bull, who assisted General Oglethorpe in laying off the 
town in 1733, and it is lined on either side by shade trees. Handsome 
residences and imposing public buildings attract attention on this street, and 
on pleasant days it presents an animated appearance, the squares it crosses 
being filled with nurses and baby carriages and small children. 

South Broad Street crosses Bull Street at right angles, and in olden times 
was one of the boundaries of Savannah. Four rows of shade trees provide the 
avenue with two carriage streets and a shady, grass-covered walk between them. 
The effect is charming ; and we question if there be another such tempting 
avenue in the United States, with its trees, handsome dwellings and fine public 
structures. 

Bay Street is the great commercial street of Savannah, is paved, and is 
lined on both sides with mercantile houses, banks and business ofiices. The 
Exchange, or more properly the City Hall, the Custom House and Post Office 
are located on Bay Street. 

Liberty Street is a broad and beautiful avenue, with three rows of shade 
trees, situated in the residence portion of the city, and crossing Bull Street. 

There are' twenty four small parks or squares in Savannah, five of which are 
situated on Bull Street. Four of them have monuments or mounds in the 
centre. 

Johnson Square is laid off by flagged walks into green plats, and the Greene 
monument stands in the centre. On March 21st, 1825, General Lafayette laid 



G8 SAVANN-VH HER 



the corner-stones of this moument and one in Chippewa Square, in memory of 
General Nathaniel Greene and Count Casimir Pulaski, companions in arms of 
Lafayette in the Revolutionary war. The monument to Greene was finished in 
1829, and there not being in hand sufficient monej' to erect the monument to 
Pulaski, this mysterious stone — mysterious because there is neither inscription 
nor symbol to indicate its design — was known as the '' Greene and Pulaski 
Monument" for many years. At some future time, no doubt, a suitable inscrip- 
tion will be placed upon its disk. 

In Wright Square repose the remains of Tomochichi, the friend of Ogle- 
thorpe and the protector of the early settlers. The Q,xact location of the grave 
is not known, but a mound of ivy, surmounted by a Grecian vase in which an 
aloe is growing, serves for his monument for the present, and until another, 
more lasting, replaces it. 

The Jasper Monument occupies the centre of Madison Square. It was 
erected to the memory of Sergeant Jasper, of Revolutionary fame, who lost his 
life in the siege of Savannah by the allied American and French forces while 
attempting to replace his regimental colors within the British lines, where they 
had been carried by an assault and their bearer shot down. 

In the centre of Monterey Square stands the Pulaski Monument. In 1853 
the corner-stone laid by Lafayette in Chippewa Square in 1825 was removed to 
Monterey Square, and relaid, with an additional corner-stone, on the 11th of 
October. The monument is from the hands of his fellow-countryman, Launitz, 
and was completed in 1854. Brigadier-General Casimir Count Pulaski was a 
native of Poland, and being exiled from his home came to America. After 
serving bravely in the American army, in 1778 he raised a corps called " Pulas- 
ki's Legion," with the approbation of Washington, and was ordered with it to 
Savannah in 1779. He was mortally wounded by a cannon-shot in an assault 
upon Savannah, then held by the British, and died two days afterwards at sea. 

NEWSPAPERS OF SAVANNAH. 

Newspapers are the nervous system of society. They transmit intelligence 
to and from all parts of the body politic. Without them, or some substitute 
for them, public sensibility would be impossible. And as the state of the ner- 
vous system is one of the best indications of the condition of the human body, 
so the character of the newspapers of a community is one of the best evidences 
of its thrift and general intelligence. 

Savannah has no reason to fear a judgment by this rule. The character of 
onr papers is highly creditable to us as a community. We have the Savannah 
Morning Neivs, daily and a weekly issue; Savannah Daily Times, an evening 
paper; Georgia FamAlien Journal^ a weekly; Abend Zeitung, the Mystic 
Brotherhood^ Weekly Echo and Penny Local. 

We regret that we cannot speak of them all separately, but our space will 
permit us to mention only two or three. 



TRADE, COMMERCE AND INDUSTRIES. 



69 



THE SAVANNAH MORNING NEWS. 



The Morning News is the only paper in Georgia, with one exception, print- 
ing the full dispatches of the Associated Press, and the only paper published 
every day in the year. It was established in 1850, and has been issued con- 




tinuously ever since that time, over a third of a century. Besides its large city 
circulation, the daily is taken at 215 post-offices in Georgia, 62 post-offices in 
Florida, and 20 post-offices in South Carolina. Its mammoth Sunday edition is 
sent to all subscribers, giv'ing them a paper every day in the year. Price, 
including Sunday, $10 a year. 



70 SAVANNAH HER 



THE SAVANNAH WEEKLY NEWS 

is a mammoth eight-page paper, 38x52 inches. It is tiie favorite paper of the 
farmers and merchants of Georgia and Florida, where they have not the facili- 
ties of a daily mail. It is a strictly cash-in-advance, $2.00 a-year paper, but withal 
has the largest circulation of any paper published in the South. It has sub- 
scribers at 429 post-offices in Georgia, 320 post-offices in Florida, and 39 post- 
offices in South Carolina, and also in every State in the Union. 

THE SUNDAY MORNING NEWS 

is another mammoth eight-page paper, 38x52 inches, combining all the freshness 
of a dail}' paper, with locals, telegraph, and that of a society and literary jour- 
nal. It is an unrivalled advertising medium, having for its constituency the 
entire city and the reading population along the lines of three railroads. It is 
sent to all subscribers to the daily News. The price of the Sunday News is 
$2.00 a year. 

The editor and proprietor oi\\\QS%Lnday Ne\os\% Col. J. H. Estill; he has 
owned and managed the entire establishment for the last seventeen years. It is 
one of the few large printing houses in the country owned by one person. 

THE MOKNING NEWS BUILDING, 

Located at No. 3 Whitaker Street, corner of Bay Lane, was erected in 1875, 
especially for the purpose and with a single view to its adaptation to the pub- 
lishing and printing business, and at that time it was thought large enough to 
meet all requirements of the paper for the next quarter of a century. This idea, 
however, proved to be a mistake, and it was found necessary two years since to 
add the building adjoining it on the north. From this building are issued the 
Daily Morning News, the Savannah Weekly News, the Sunday News and the 
Morning Neios Library. The arrangement of the main building is very com- 
plete, and is as follows: 

The basement contains two engines (with separate boilers, that in case of an 
accident to one there will be no delay in issuing the paper); a large three-revo- 
lution Hoe press; a mammoth double cylinder press; one Forsaith and one 
Chambers folding machine, mailing tables, etc. The double cylinder is one of 
the largest presses of the kind ever built, being forty*four by sixt}^ inches. The 
street floor is the publication office, and the stock and the superintendent's room 
of the printing and binding departments. On this floor is also the proprietor's 
office. On the second floor are the editorial rooms. 

The third floor is entirely given up to the book and job printing depart- 
ments, in which everything that is needed to do good work can be found. 
Experienced printers who have been employed in it say it is the best place of 
the kind they have ever worked in. 

The top, or fourth floor, is devoted to the newspaper composing room, a finely 
lighted and well ventilated apartment. 

The new addition is connected on each floor with the main building, the 
entrances being protected by iron doors, so as to prevent the spreading of a Are 
should one "occur. 



TRADE, COMMERCE AND INDUSTRIES. 71 

Its basement forms a part of the press-room department already described, 
the wetting room, where the newspaper is wet before it is printed, and is also 
used as a store room for paper, a large supply of which is always kept on hand, 
so that no ordinary accident to a paper mill can endanger an issue of the various 
publications of the establishment. On the first or street floor of this building is 
the job press room, where there are eight steam presses, often run eighteen 
hours out of the twenty-four. 

On the second floor is the stereotyping room, fitted up with Hoe's latest 
improved machinery. The front rooms on this floor are occupied by the engra- 
ving and lithographing departments. The third floor is devoted exclusively to 
the book bindery and blank book manufactory. Here is every facility for bind- 
ing books and making blank books, the latest machines for ruling paper, and 
cutting and paging machines, etc. 

An elevator driven by steam extends from the basement to the top floor of 
the main building, with openings on each floor, and all rooms are connected with 
the business departments on the street floor by speaking tubes, while the tele- 
phone connects the establishment with the railroads, the steamers, the wharves, 
the public ofiices and the principal business houses, by means of the telephone 
exchange. A wire also connects the ofiice with the signal station at Tybee, 
eighteen miles distant. In addition to all these facilities, the building is well 
protected against fire, having hydrants on each floor, and hose and pipe attached 
at all times on three floors. 

Over one hundred names are on the pay rolls of this establishment, which 
amount to from $1,200 to $1,400 per week. The success of this paper is remark- 
able when it is remembered that there are a number of daily papers in Georgia 
(saying nothing of the good weeklies), with which the Savannah Morning News 
has had to contest every inch of ground; while newspapers published in other 
Southern States have had but few other dailies to contend wdth in their own 
State, this paper has not only held to itself its own legitimate territory, but 
almost monopolizes the lower half of Georgia, three-quarters of the State of 
Florida, and a part of South Carolina. 

THE SAVANNAH DAILY TIMES. 

The Times is the best evening newspaper in the State of Georgia. It owes 
its present position at the front of the best evening journals to the able and enter- 
prising manager, Mr. B. H. Richardson. This paper is issued every evening, 
except Saturday, and on Sunday morning, by the Times Publishing Company, of 
which Mr. Richardson is president, at No, 94 Bryan Street, It is well estab- 
lished and is rapidlj' growing in popular favor. In size and appearance it com- 
pares very favorably with the evening papers of the South, while its editorial and 
local columns are far superior to most of them. Its success is already assured. 

THE GEORGIA FAMILIEN-.JOUKNAL, 

The Georgia Familien- Journal is an eight page German weekly, the only 
German family paper in the South. It is published every Saturday by Kuckuck 
& Seeman, at 102 Broughton Street, and has a large circulation in Georgia, 
!Nortli and South Carolina, Florida and Alabama. 



L. J. GUILMARTIX. CHARLES R. HERRON. 



V 






COTTON FACTORS 



-AND 



COMMISSION MERCHANTS, 

S20 BAT §T-BEE-T-, 
SAVANNAH, - - GEORGIA. 



Liberal advances made on consignments of Cotton. Bagging and Iron Ties for sale 

at lowest market rates. 



DEN^IS o'Co:nnell, 

—DEALER IN— 

JUNK, COTTON, PAPER, 

AND METALS, 
No. 200 BAY STREET. 



TRADE, COMMEKCE AND INDUSTRIES. 



73 



LEADING BUSINESS HOUSES 



-OF- 



SAVANNAH 



We present to our readers and business community herewith a brief historical 
review of the prominent business houses and manufacturing firms of the City of 
Savannah. 

It will be interesting as an exhibit of the growth of the city for the past thirty 
years. The notices, as a group, embrace numbers of substantial and enterprising 
firms in every department of trade, including many specialties not to be obtained in 
any other market, and will be an assurance to those contemplating a visit for the pur- 
pose of purchasing supplies that their every want can be fully satisfied, on as favor- 
able terms as at any point in the United States. No firm of any prominence has been 
willingly excluded. 



HENRY SOLOMON & SON — Wholesale Grocers, Dealers in Pure Liquors, 
Cigars and Tobaccos, 173 and 175 Bay Street; Warehouses, 200 and 202 Bay Street. 

Prominent among the list of wholesale grocers in Savannah stand the firm of Henry 
Solomon & Son. Enjoying the highest confidence of our citizens, they are well and 
favorably known in the business circles as honorable and enterprising men. For 

upwards of a quarter of a cen- 
tury the senior has been num- 
'.^Ol'OJr^'^^^^K^V-^ bered among the enterprising 
^- and the substantial citizens of 
'1^- Georgia, having resided in the 
vicinity of and in Savannah 
since 1851. This establishment 
has reached its proud position 
in the commercial annals of Georgia by the SUPERIOR KNOWLEDGE OF THEIR 
BUSINESS, and steadily adhering to the principle of GIVING THEIR CUSTOMERS 
FULL VALUE FOR THEIR MONEY. There are few firms in Savannah who have 
developed such enterprise, and been so pre-eminent in the several branches of the 
wholesale gr6cery business. They are not only celebrated over a greater part of this 
State, but also in Florida and South Carolina, where their business extends. This is 
one of the largest establishments of its kind in the State ofjGeorgia. Their capacious 





74 SAVAXNAH HER 



stores, 173 and 175 Bay Street, and their warehouses on Bay Street, which run from 
the bay to the river, are replete with everything required by the retailers of groceries, 
liquors, cigars and tobaccos. Their stock comprises a complete and endless variety 
of groceries, an enumeration of which would fill many pages of this volume, and 
still be inadequate to do the contents of their establishment anything like justice. 
We may however mention a few articles most conspicuous. Of flour, they own the 
celebrated brands of " Georgia Belle " and " Savannah Roll ;" both possess a high 
state of excellence, and have for years given complete satisfaction to the retail trade. 
They also control the two best flours manufactured in the United States, "Ceres" 
and " Water Lily." In liquors this firm has always occupied a leading position in 
the trade. In point of magnitude of business done, and reliability of pure goods 
furnished the public, no house in the city is its superior, and it has few equals. They 
carr}' the largest stock in Georgia of a fine selected assortment of brandies, whiskej^s, 
rums and gins. The famous '' Old Fashioned Rye " whiskey is controlled by them, 
and is endorsed by every lover of good and pure liquor. They have never knowingly 
sold a gallon of impure liquor. Long years of experience in this branch of business, 
coupled with a knowledge of the leading distillers, has enabled this house to carry a 
stock and acquire a reputation beyond rivalry — offering pure and unadulterated 
goods at prices not to be undersold, and not easily duplicated. In cigars and 
tobaccos they have achieved a reputation, and acquired a trade, that places them in 
the front rank of enterprise and success. They possess a thorough appreciation of 
the wants and demands of the trade ; their intimate knowledge of the business 
enables them to offer marked advantages to their patrons. The volume of their sales 
of cigars and tobaccos surpasses that of many who make a specialty of this branch 
of trade. Wherever you travel South, " Our Major " cigar has the preference. 
This brand and the numerous others sold by this house enlarge the sales and increase 
the profits of the retail dealers. The lover of the "weed" would as leave forego 
a meal as be without a chew of "Henry Solomon's (5s) Fives" or "Planters' 
Chew" tobacco. The former has been on the market since 1857 without a peer ; 
its well-earned reputation is a guarantee to any who have not availed themselves of 
introducing it to their customers. Although it is one of the best tobaccos made, it 
is not sold at wholesale at a fancy price, and is the most profitable tobacco the 
retailer handles. "Minnie Lee," "Good Morning," "Pearl T3^e," "Unique," 
"Continental," " Champ Carter," "Oak Dale," "Nancy," " H. Solomon Sixes," 
" H. Solomon Eights," are among the popular brands, besides a galaxy of others 
only to be found here. Those who patronize the firm in this branch are little likely to 
transfer their patronage elsewhere. We call particular attention to this house and 
cheerfully recommend it. Their prices compare favorably with the East, North or 
West, with whom they compete successfully. We are confident that those who estab- 
lish relations with it will find their advantage very much promoted. 

HAWKINS & COCORZA — Dealers and Manufacturers of Yelloiv Pine Lumber 
and Timber, Hani Wuods, Shinyles, Planed and Dressed Woods, etc., 67 Bay Street. 
The situation of Savannah with reference to the timber growing districts of the 
South has always conduced to give her importance in the lumber trade (representing 
at the present time not less than S3, 000, 000 worth), a trade that has in a targe degree 
added to the general prosperity, and there is no branch of her mercantile interests 
which is so well calculated to give her wide-spread reputation and enure to her future 



TRADE, COMMERCE AND INDUSTRIES. 75 

prosperity. There are several firms engaged in tliis branch, employing in the aggre- 
gate large capital. Some are almost mammoth in their proportions, and are supplied 
with every requisite facility for the manufacture and handling of lumber in all its 
various forms. At the very head of these is the firm of Hawkins & Gogorza. Their 
business is one of such large proportions and of such systematic arrangement, and 
occupies such a prominent position among the commercial and manufacturing in- 
terests of Savannah, as to demand especial mention in a work devoted to the mer- 
cantile history of the city. This house was originally started in 1880, by Haslam 
and Hawkins. In 1883 Mr. Haslam withdrew, and early in 1884 Mr. A. Gogorza 
became a member, the present firm name being then adopted. The plant of the firm 
consists of a fully equipped sawmill at Wheaton, Georgia, and a planing mill at 
Savannah, with a complete complement of machinery and appliances of the best 
modern design and construction. They deal specially in hewn and sawed yellow pine 
and hard woods ; cypress shingles ; tongued, grooved and planed boards ; mouldings, 
etc. Their sawmill at Wheaton is most advantageously situated in close proximity to 
their wood lands ; and to facilitate the transportation of lumber they have built, for 
their own purposes, ten miles of railroad, which they operate, owning a full comple- 
ment of cars and two locomotives. The output of the mill is about 27,000 super- 
ficial feet of merchantable lumber daily. In hewn timber it is difficult to make an 
estimate, but large quantities are gotten out. At the planing mill the output in 
dressed lumber, tongued and grooved boards, mouldings, etc., is about 20,000 feet 
daily, and about 200,000 cypress shingles per month. Their trade extends all over 
the country, yellow pine lumber growing yearly more in favor for interior finish and 
decoration. They export largely to Spain, South America, South Africa, and the West 
Indies. Some two hundred and thirty hands are employed in the various avocations. 
For the accommodation of their employees the firm own some fifty cottages, besides 
the necessary barns, stockyards and outbuildings, some seventy head of stock being 
required in the prosecution of their large business. In hewn timber the firm supply 
white oak, white ash, hickory, poplar, cypress, sweet gum, curly pine, etc. The 
transactions of the firm will reach $550,000 annually. Mr. Antonio Gogorza is vice- 
consul of Portugal and secretary of the consular corps ; he is a native of Spain, 
and a resident of Savannah since 1874. Mr. W. A. Hawkins is a native of Georgia. 
Establishments of this class, which contribute so materially to the manufacturing and 
productive resources of the city, are of incalculable benefit, attracting attention to 
the facilities of this section, and stimulating enterprise by their energy and business 
vim. Both members of the firm are thoroughly experienced in the business in all 
its departments, and devote their constant personal attention to its management. 
No city ever became great or specially prosperous without successful manufacturing- 
establishments ; they are the muscle and sinews of commercial progress and develop- 
ment, and should be encouraged. Messrs. Hawkins & Gogorza conduct their 
business on the most elevated plane of commercial honor and legitimate commercial 
policy. They have achieved success, which enures substantially to the city's ad- 
vantage as well as their own. 



HAWKINS y GOGORZA — Fabricantes y Exportadores de Maderas de todas 

clases, Savannah, Georgia. 

La posicion geografica de Savannah respecto a las regiones de bosques de Maderas 
de estos Estados del Sur, le ha dado siempre gran importancia en el negocio de 



'6 SAVANNAH HER 



Maderas. La industria en este articulo esta hoy representada en Savannah por mas 
de S3, 000, 000 y no hay rarao del coraercio de esta Plaza que ofrezca a la raisma tan 
solida riqueza y futura prosperidad. De las varias casas que en Savannah se ocupan 
en la industria maderera, algunas de ellas son casi colosales por los grandes intereses 
que abarcan y capitales erapleados en bosques y maquinaria. A la cabeza de ellas 
esta la casa de Hawkins y Gogorza ; sus relaciones con el Pais y el Estrangero son 
de tal magnitud, estdn tan sistematicamente montados y ocupan tal posicion en el 
mundo comercial y manufacturero, que exijen una mencion especial en esta obra 
dedicada a la historia mercantil de Savannah. Esta casa fu6 establecida en Enero de 
1880 bajo la razon social de Haslam y Hawkins. En 1883 Haslam se retir6 de la 
casa y el 1.° de Enero de 1884 Antonio Gogorza entro en la misma, tomando la casa 
su nombre actual de Hawkins y Gogorza. Este sociedad posee un molino di sierra 
d vapor, en el pueblo de Wheaton, al interior de este Estado, y otro Molino para 
machihembrear, cepillar, tornear &, en esta Plaza. Ambas fabricas estan dotadas 
con maquinaria e instrumentos de construccion y sistema mas modernos. Los nego- 
cios de que se ocupa esta casa son, en Maderas aserradas y hacheadas, tanto de Pino 
tea como de Roble, Nogal, Fresno, Cipr^s, & ; tejamaniles de cipres, tabloneria 
cepillada y machihembrada, molduras, torneos &. El molino de sierra en Wheaton 
esta situado cerca de los Bosques de madera de la propiedad de dicha casa, y para 
facilitar el transporte de troncos desde dichos bosques al molino, los Srs. Hawkins y 
Gogorza han construido para su solo uso, diez millas de ferro-carril con el necesario 
niimero de wagones y dos locomotoras. P21 rendimiento diario de dicho molino de 
sierra, en madera de primera clase solamente, es de 27,000 pies superficiales. En 
maderas hacheadas es dificil calcular el movimiento de esta casa ; pero grandes can- 
tidades son embarcadas para el Estrangero. La produccion diaria de su Fabrica de 
cepillar }' machihembrar de esta plaza, es alrededor de 20,000 pies superficiales, 
ademas del incalculable niimero de molduras, cornizas, &c. Su produccion en 
tejamaniles es alrededor de 200, 000 al mes, aunque esta produccion pueden facil- 
mente duplicarla cuando la demanda asi lo exige. Esta casa, ademas de su negocio 
con este pais, exporta sus productos a Espaiia, Portugal, costa occidental de Africa, 
Antillas, y Sur de America. Los operarios empleados por esta tirma en sus diferentes 
molinos y dependencias, asciende a 230 hombres y para su albergiie la susodicha 
sociedad posee unas 50 casas ademas de las cuadras, ganaderos y corrales necesarios 
para la proteccion de unas 70 mulas y caballos que usan en el negocio. El Sr. 
Hawkins es natural de este Estado de Georgia. El Sr. Gogorza es nacido en Espafia 
y vino a esta plaza en 1874 ; ocupa ademas la posicion oficial de Vice-Consul de Por- 
tugal y es Secretario del cuerpo Consular de esta Plaza. Establecimientos como el 
de los SiVs. Hawkins y Gogorzas, contribuyen i)oderosamente al dcsarrollo 3'^ pros- 
peridad de la Ciudad que los alberga y Uaman considerablemente la atencion del 
mundo comercial por su actividad y energia. Ambos miembros de dicha firma 
poseen una consumada experieYicia en el negocio de Maderas y dedican su personal 
y estricta atencion al manejo y desarrollo del mismo. Ninguna Ciudad puede llegar 
a ser notable y prospera sin6 posee establecimientos manufactureros que formen el 
musculo y nervio para su desarrollo. Los Si^. Hawkins y Gogorza manejan sus ne- 
gocios bajo el mas elevado plan de honor e intogridad mercantil, y sus esfuerzos por 
este camino les ha alcanzado un resultado sumamente beneficioso no solo para cllos 
raismos sino para la Ciudad y puerto de Savannah. 



TRADE, COMIVIERCE AND INDUSTRIES. 77 

ECKIVIAN & VETSBKJRC— Wholesale Dry Goods and Notions, Nos. 131 and 
153 Congress Street; New York Office, 39 Worth Street. 

In the commercial history of all cities there are some staid old houses, connecting links 
in the chain of mercantile annals, associating the present with the past — houses, some 
of whose founders have been busy actors in the drama of events long since buried in 
oblivion, still on the busy stage of business life, enacting their parts with conservative, 
careful and honorable policy, tempered with prudential enterprise. Such a position 
is occupied in the biography of Savannah by the firm of Eckman & Vetsburg, whole- 
sale dealers in dry goods. The business enterprise and solidity of a city are in a 
great measure indicated by the extent and character of her jobbing houses. The 
great dry goods houses of the country have ever exercised a powerful influence, and 
the old, wealthy and successful establishments have become familiar by name and 
reputation in all sections of the land. Savannah is most favorably situated as to the 
great arteries and highways of commerce, having invaluable connections both by 
water and land with all parts of the South, her mercantile ramifications extending 
through it in every direction, and yearly growing larger and more important ; one of 
the chief factors in her progress has been her dry goods interests, and the history of 
her largest wholesale jobbing house, while a necessary and integral part of her statis- 
ical biography is also interesting and valuable as an historical record and useful for 
reference. In 1845, R. Einstein and S. II. Eckman associated themselves under the firm 
title of Einstein & Eckman, for the purpose of carrying on the dry goods business. 
From the outset they pushed their business energetically, soon taking rank as the 
leading wholesale house in this part of the country. In 1870, Mr. Abraham Vetsburg 
was admitted to the firm, the style becoming Einstein, Eckman & Co., which continued 
until 1877. Mr. Einstein having died in 1875, the family interest was continued, 
the sons managing the interest of the estate. The firm title was changed at the 
withdrawal of this interest to the present style, Eckman & Vetsburg. The same 
policy which characterized the operations of the house through the preceding 30 odd 
years of its successful existence has been adhered to. Still pushing their trade, 
their transactions have been carried into the neighboring States, their influence and 
reputation gradually and surely extended, until it is now the ranking establishment 
in the South, a position to which it is justly entitled, and which is freely accorded it 
from their long experience, their extensive transactions, the magnitude of their stock, 
and the well-known characteristics of the gentlemen composing the firm. Through 
all the years this house has been in existence, the change it has undergone, the muta- 
tions in trade incident to its long career, it has ever maintained with brightening 
reputation the perfect system, the high degree of mercantile integrity and the 
elevated business enterprise with which it was founded, and which has rendered its 
success assured. They occupy one of the most commodious business houses in the 
city ; the building is constructed of brick, with a frontage of 50 feet on Congress 
Street and a depth of 90 feet, four-stories in height, including a finished basement, 
giving them 18,000 square feet, which is utilized in the prosecution of their large 
trade. The business operations are thoroughly organized into different departments, 
managed by competent hands, all under the direct personal supervision of the pro- 
prietors. The stock carried will average $150,000 in value, the annual transactions 
will reach $750,000. They employ sixteen assistants. Their trade extends through 
Georgia, Florida, South Carolina and Alabama. To successfully manage such a 
business requires a system of complete thoroughness, and a knowledge of business 



78 SAVANNAH HER 



only acquired by years of education and experience. Eckman & Vetsburg are the 
leading house in the Southeast, and their name has become known as a house of 
ample capital, superior stock and the most admirable business qualifications. Mr. S. 
H. Eckman has resided in New York for the past ten years as the buyer of the house, 
while Mr. Abraham Vetsburg attends to the business in Savannah. 

LUDDEN & BATES — Southern Music House, Southern Distributing Depot for 
SliPet Music, 142 atid 144 Congress Street. 

One of the best evidences of the dawning of an era of progress and material 
advancement in the enterprise of the Southern States is the establishment, in the com- 
mercial centers, of houses of the go-ahead determined business ability of foreign 
capitalists, and the push of their invincible management. The stimulus of their 
example exercises a most wholesome influence, and those cities in which thej'- have 
established themselves during the last 15 years already exhibit indisputable evidences 
of modern enterprise and mercantile activity. This was the electric spark nepessary 
to kindle the slow burning fire of Southern ambition and manhood, and teach them to 
forget past glories and subsequent disasters in heroic efforts to develop their natural 
resources and build up a country commercially great. This has been nowhere better 
verified than in Georgia ; her cities have attracted more attention than those of sister 
States, l)y the determination and effective energy they are evincing since the civil war 
to make themselves prosperous, and metropolitan Savannah, with perhaps less bluster 
and froth, has kept even pace with the foremost, aud a bright future is in store for 
her. In Savannah, Messrs. Ludden & Bates are the best exemplars of this class. 
Bringing with them from the West the irrepressible vim and fearless mercantile spirit, 
characteristic of that section, they have in a limited period, despite strenuous compe- 
tition, built up a business without a j^eer in their line in the entire South, from the 
Potomac to the Gulf, and in accomplishing this their example has been of incalculable 
benefit to the city and section. Teach a people the possibilities that exist within 
themselves and they will essay a like venture. In 1870, W. Ludden and J. A. Bates, 
of Chicago, established the nucleus of their present magnificent business with a 
capital of $20,000. Starting with full confidence in their own ability and a true 
conception of the latent possibilities of the city, they have taken advantage of every 
legitimate business factor and principle that would advance their purpose, and they 
have won the fight, and to-day they employ a bone fide capital of their own earnings 
of $150,000, and represent the most prominent and meritorious musical houses in 
this country and Europe. Their trade has not l)een trammeled b^' the trade limits of 
the cit}^, they recognized no special tributary countr}', but pushed their transactions, 
until their books show customers in ever}"^ Southern State and Mexico. They carry 
an average stock of $100,000 in value, and their annual transactions will reach dver 
$500,000. They emploj^ twenty-five assistants. Their business premises are com- 
modious, well lighted, and convenient, among the largest in the South ; the building 
has a frontage of 00 feet by 60 in depth, four-stories in height, including the base- 
ment, giving them 15,000 square feet of floor surface, which they utilize in their busi- 
ness. They, in addition to their own make, are agents for the very best pianos and 
organs in the world, for musical publicatious and musical merchandise. Alwa3's on 
the alert to improve their own facilities, and recognizing the fact that anj'^ under- 
taking that attracts favorable attention to the city has an indirect beneficial influence 
upon their own business, they have manifested their public enterprise by establishing 



TRADE, COMMERCE AND INDUSTRIES. 79 

the publication of a family monthly magazine, called Home, Sioeet Home. They con- 
template the establishment of a piano factory in this city at an early date. The house 
has branch establishments in Macon, Augusta, Columbus and Rome, Ga. ; Goldsboro 
and Charlotte, N. C. ; Greenville, S. C. ; Jacksonville, Fla. ; Meridian, Miss. ; Knox- 
ville, Tenn. ; and New York City the headquarters for their importation. Mr. J. A. 
Bates, the managing partner, has been educated in the business and has a valuable 
experience. Business men of this undaunted spirit are those who build great cities ; 
unceasing and untiring in their exertion, and irresistible in their ambitious enterprise, 
they create a wholesome business activity and competition that result in vast good 
to all branches of trade. Honorable and liberal, the house of Ludden & Bates is a 
credit to themselves and to the city. 

PALMER BROTHERS — Hardtvare, Rubber Belting, Agricultural Implements, 
Dnp«nVs Poivder, Fairbanks^ Scales, 148 mid 150 Congress and 149 and 151 St. 
Julian Streets. 

In the enumeration of the commercial enterprises of cities it is interesting to note 
the ratio of influence exercised by the different branches of trade comparatively. The 
statistician, in collating data and tabulating the results, has unusual facilities for form- 
ing estimates, and observing the bearing on the general thrift and progress exerted by 
each in the special inducements presented by cities to capitalists in quest of invest- 
ments, or business men seeking favorable locations. Among these, basing our judg- 
ment on an experience of several years in the business, we would unquestionably give 
precedence to the various business branches connected with iron in its manifold com- 
mercial and manufacturing industries. The generic term hardware includes all 
articles fabricated out of iron and, its chief result, steel, the application being general 
in its signification. Its utility, in its influence, comprehends all pursuits, whether of 
art, science, mechanics or labor, and there is no branch of business that is such a 
potent auxiliary in extending and enlarging commercial and mechanical progress, 
and fostering business relations with other States and cities among the houses devoted 
to this branch in Savannah. That of Messrs. Palmer Bros, may be justly regarded 
as the foremost regarding an exclusively hardware business. This establishment was 
founded in 1866 by Palmer & Deppish, with a capital of $1,200, and conducted suc- 
cessfully by them until 1876, when Mr. D. died, and the present firm succeeded — 
composed of S. B. Palmer and H. A. Palmer. In 1882 Mr. H. W. Palmer became a 
member of the firm. Experience in any pursuit in life is justly regarded as equal to 
capital when the ability exists to profit by it, and when this exists, in connection with 
intelligent enterprise and sterling business principles, success is but a question of 
time. The senior of this firm, Mr. S. B. Palmer, evidently merits to be ranked in 
this class, his experience being reckoned by a period of 40 years, and singular to note, 
he began the study of the business in 1844 in the store he now occupies. In the 
estimation of his fellow citizens he has been found worthy of entire confidence and 
consideration. The firm in the management of their entensive business have mani- 
fested a rare judgment and thorough comprehension of its various details ; always 
alive to improvements and modern ideas, their stock is kept fully up to the standard 
observed in the large Eastern and Western cities; as importers and jobbers the}' have 
established an enviable reputation for keen discrimination, and may be fairly 
regarded as experts. They occupy the large four-story double brick building 
148 and 150 Congress Street, with a frontage of 42 feet on both Congress and St. Julian 



80 



SAVANXAH HER 



Streets, with a depth of GO feet, thus utilizing 10,080 square feet of floor surface in 
the prosecution of their business. They carry an average stock of 850,000 in value, 
including all articles pertaining to the hardware business, for mechanical, agricul- 
tural, artistic and scientific purposes. The}^ employ nine assistants. The trade of 
the house extends throughout the States of Georgia, South Carolina, Florida and 
Alabama, the transactions amounting to $250,000 annuall3\ S. B. Palmer is a 
director of the Southern Bank ; H. A. Palmer is a director of the Skidaway Shell 
Road. The relation of bare facts in connection with this house is argument enough 
without comment on our part. 




D- B. LESTER— (Grocer, 21 Whitaker Street. 

In an historical review of our mercantile interests, there is no department of trade 
which forms so directly the connecting link between the avenues of mental and 
physical labor as that branch which supplies the needs of every home and table. 

Of the man}^ firms and individuals in this city 
engaged in the grocery business, it may be safe 
to assert that none in this section of the city pre- 
sents a more full and complete stock, or is con- 
ducted with a more thorough knowledge of the 
requirements of the trade, than the establishment 
of Mr. D. B. Lester. Mr. L. started his present 
business here in 1874, and always keeps on hand 
a choice assortment of fine family groceries, and 
everything pertaining to this line of trade, the 
amount of stock varying somewhat with the sea- 
son of the year. Four floors of the building at 
iS'u. 21 Whitukur Street are required in storing the supplies of this well-known house. 
The first floor (or cellar) is used exclusively for a wine cellar, and is filled with a 
large stock of the various brands of wines and liquors, such as old Duff Gordon Sherry, 
Oporto wines, old Madeira, Sweet Catawba, Georgia Scuppernong, fine French 
brandies, Jamaica and Santa Croix rums, Old Tom gin, peach and apple brandy, and 
everything in that line to complete a first-class stock. The second floor is the retail 
department. The shelves of this entire floor are enclosed with a glass front, show- 
ing off to great advantage every article kept in this large establishment. The third 
floor is used for storing heavy groceries, such as flour, rice, bacon, soap, starch, 
coffee, and all kinds of canned goods. The fourth floor is used for vegetables, wood 
and willow ware, etc. Five assistants give courteous and prompt attention to all who 
visit this establishment, and goods are delivered promptly to customers in all parts 
of the city. Mr. Lester is sole agent in Savannah for the celebrated Mohawk 
whiskey, the price being but $3.00 per gallon. Orders are received from both city 
and suburban customers for goods in the grocery line, and the transactions of the 
house compare favorably withj those of contemporary establishments. Mr. Lester 
was born in Bullock county, Georgia, in 1851, and is comparativel}- a young man. 
He has resided in Savannah for fifteen years, and deserves credit for the large busi- 
ness he has built up and the systematic manner in which he conducts it. Not only 
for the excellence of stock, but for the promptness and efficienc}' of the business 
transactions, is this house entitled to liberal mention among the progressive mer- 
cantile enterprises of this cit3\ 



TRADE, COMMERCE AND INDUSTRIES. 81 

R. B. CASSELS — Wood and Coal Dealer, Taylor and East Broad Streets. 

The manner in which the wood and coal business is conducted in this city gives it a 
wider range and scope than is usually attached to it. It has attracted a vast amount 
of capital, and numerous houses have been established for the handling of large or 
small quantities. Mr. R. B. Cassels started in this business here in 1871, and has 
achieved a very prosperous career. With a comprehensive knowledge of its require- 
ments and by straightforward business transactions he has established a flourishing and 
gradually increasing trade. The premises occupied by Mr. Cassels are ample for the 
prosecution of his business, and are conveniently supplied with sheds and coverings, 
and all the latest appurtenances for sawing or splitting wood to any desired length. 
Here will also be found a large supply of wood, and anthracite coal from Pennsyl- 
vania, which is delivered to purchasers in any part of the city, and orders filled for 
parties residing on the Savannah, Florida and Western, and Charleston and Savannah 
railway lines. The sales in wood constitute the main portion of this business, and 
fifteen employees are required during the busy season in handling the stock. The 
business policy of the house is enterprising and liberal, resulting naturally in the 
marked success which has attended its operations. Orders by telephone are promptly 
filled, and this house compares favorably with similar concerns in the city. Mr. 
Cassels was born in Liberty County, Ga. , and upon coming here, in 1871, embarked in his 
present undertaking, which has enjoyed a continuously successful career. He is pre- 
pared to furnish supplies in this line to the public promptly and satisfactorily, as a 
trial will convince any one. 

P. O. KESSLER & CO. — Importers of and Dealers in Guns, Rifles, Pistols and 
Sporting Goods, 1 74 Broughton Street. 

In a city whose vicinity, like that of Savannah, abounds in the choicest game of all 
descriptions, including some of the most tempting and delicate of the game birds, 
such as partridges, grouse, woodcock, etc., not to speak of larger game, the necessity 
of an establishment dealing exclusively in sporting goods and ammunition has long 
been felt by its sportsmen, but until lately that want was unfilled. On January 1st, 
however, Mr. P. O. Kessler started such an establishment at 174 Broughton Street. 
His stock is as complete as can be desired, embracing all the most celebrated brands 
of shotguns and rifles, pistols, and in fact everything which the most ardent hunter 
and lover of the chase could desire. He is agent for the best English, Belgian and 
German makers, of whose best goods he has a complete line, his entire stock amount- 
ing to $5,500 in value. His business, for so short a space of time as up to date, has 
opened well, and promises at no distant period to assume very large proportions. 
Mr, Kessler is a native of Sahl, Prussia, but has resided for some time in America. 
His profession, which he has followed all his life, was learned in Germany, he having 
followed it from boyhood, and is therefore thoroughly qualified for it. He has made 
several important inventions and improvements, among them a very ingenious car- 
tridge shell, and also a powder flask. He is a gentleman of good character and 
stands well in the community, and with his determination to succeed will no doubt, 
with the excellent beginning he has made, realize all his hopes. His store fills an 
important want in Savannah, and we cheerfully recommend it to all who wish the very 
best goods at the most reasonable prices. A visit to his establishment will be appre- 
ciated, as he is always pleased to show his goods to any who may desire to see them, 
even if not with the intention of purchasing. 



82 SAVANNAH HER 



H. FRASER GRANT & CO. — General Commission Merchants, Cotton, Rice 
and Naval Stores, Agents for Standard Fertilizers, 72 Bay Street. 

The situation of Savannah with reference to the great cotton and rice growing and 
naval-stores producing districts of the South, and her geographical position on one of 
the great estuaries of the Atlantic ocean, has given her unsurpassed advantages which, 
with proper development, will in the not far distant future class her among the com- 
mercial cities of the countr)^ The magnitude and extent of her trade in these staples 
is represented by millions, and it is yearly growing, bringing her forward, overshad- 
owing the claims and pretensions of rival cities in the South. The lack of public 
spirited enterprise, which has heretofore retarded the development and utilization of 
the latent resources of the South, is being supplied by the present generation of bus- 
iness men, and the stigma of slothful incapacity being rapidly removed. This is 
especially observable in Georgia, and in no locality more than in Savannah. "Without 
the frothy, noisy pretensions of some of her sister cities, she is quieth' and with 
self-assertion making solid, permanent progress ; built on the firm foundation of facts, 
tangible evidences of material strength, her growth is not ephemeral. Prominent 
among this class of bi^siness men, who in their desire for personal aggrandizement 
never lose sight of their city's welfare, we place by general concession H. Fraser 
Grant, the present President of the Savannah Board of Trade, and Treasurer of the 
Rice Planters' Association, positions accorded him in acknowledgment of his enter- 
prise, ability and disinterested public spirit. In 1870 Mr. Grant established himself 
in the cotton factorage business, to which he afterwards added rice and naval stores. 
This branch of the commission business is peculiar to the South, resulting from the 
inabilitj^ of the planter and producer to cultivate, harvest and market his crop, from 
various causes, the principal of which is limited capital, or indisposition to sacrifice 
valuable time to effect results which can be better accomplished through the offices 
of the commission merchant, who is educated to the business. Its importance to the 
agricultural interests, after all the main dependence of the South, can be readily in- 
ferred, and but for the assistance thus rendered, the efforts to regenerate and 
stimulate the material interests of the fairest portion of this country would be but as 
the labors of Sisyphus — unending and ever resultless. It is therefore also patent 
that this business, from the confidential nature of its relations, and the strict integrity 
reciuisite to make it effective and mutually profitable, should be in the hands of active, 
able men, of unimpeachable reputation and spotless character. Of course, as in the 
fairest creation of the human intellect, there will always exist a blemish or flaw, which 
ofttimes renders the tout ensemble only the more attractive and seductive ; so in busi- 
ness pursuits, those who stray from the paths of rectitude and conscientiously fair 
dealing, only render the straightforward, upright merchant the more successful, the 
l)etter appreciated. Men form the character t)f a business — the reflex of their own 
character gives it commercial prestige and status. H. Fraser Grant brought to this 
business his high-toned ideas of personal and mercantile honor, and success rewarded 
his efforts. In 1880 Mr. E. E. Cheatliam became a partner in the business. Mr. 
Grant having been raised a rice planter, enjoys peculiar advantages as a factor. Both 
gentlemen are native Georgians. The transactions of the firm extend through Geor- 
gia, South Carolina, Florida and Alabama, the handlings amounting in a season to 
some 8,000 bales of cotton, 7.5,000 bushels of rice, and 30,000 liarrels of naval stores. 
This is one of tlie most prominent factorage commission firms in the South. 



TRADE, COM5IERCE AND INDUSTRIES. 83 

DAVIS BROS* — Art Dealers, Booksellers, Stationers and Printers, 42 and 44 

Bull, Cor. York Streets. 

The Americans are essentially a great reading people, and every year the taste for 
reading solid literature is growing. The cultivation of this taste is an evidence of 
advancement in refinement and culture, and we believe the reading nations of the earth 
are those who excel in business, commerce, science and art. Of the several firms in 
this city engaged in the book and stationery business, it may safely be asserted that 
none are better stocked, or conducted with a more thorough knowledge of the require- 
ments of the business, than that of Davis Bros., located at the corner of Bull and York 
Streets. This enterprise was started an 1879 and has enjoyed a prosperous career. 
A fine and well selected stock of artistic goods is carried, as well as a full supply of 
stationery, both fancy and staple. Straw and manilla wrapping papers, paper bags, 
twines, ink, school books and supplies, and artists' materials, are also included in 
stock, and the trade is principally with the Host intelligent classes, to whom they can 
always offer advantages in the purchase of books and the selection of libraries not to 
be excelled by any contemporaries, either here or elsewhere in the State, and which 
has given them a position in the trade rarely acquired except by many years of 
exertion and experience. Seven assistants are required in the business, and the 
building occupied is admirably adapted to the proper display of goods in this line. 
The stock of stationery carried by this establishment is the most complete and best 
selected in the city, always embracing everything desirable, new and costly. Besides 
these essentials, they make a specialty of supplying commercial blank books, blanks 
and printed forms of all kinds, evincing a taste and discrimination in this department 
highly conducive to the wants of the trade and healthy enlargement of custom in this 
line. The minor articles pertaining to the business are by no means overlooked. 
The best grades of pens, lead pencils and various sundries are kept in ample quantity 
and different qualities. A fine collection of fancy goods pertaining to this class of 
business will be found here, especially during the holiday season of the year. 
Messrs. H. C. and L. E. Davis compose this most popular firm, both natives of 
Atlanta, Ga., and residents of this city for the past five years. Indefatigable in the 
pursuit of this business, for which they possess marked talent and appreciative 
comprehension, Messrs. Davis Bros, supply a large city patronage and receive 
orders in large number by mail. With seven years experience, their success and the 
high estimation in which they are held by those who have had dealings with them, as 
well as the public generally, are suflicient guarantees not only of integrity in business 
transactions but of general characteristics, entitling them to the entire confidence and 
respect of the community. 

R. H, GILES — Plumber and Gas Fitter, 36 Drayton Street. 

Mr. Giles, who is a thorough and practical plumber, conversant with the minutest 
details of his profession, is an energetic and practical business man, who by his 
industr}^ has fully merited the success which has come to him. Owing to his favor- 
able location, general reputation, and the excellent character of the work which comes 
from his establishment, there is to-day no one here more trusted than himself. He 
superintends all work done in his establishment, and his guarantee is sufficient to 
insure its being good. His stock is varied and complete in all its details. Mr. Giles 
is a gentleman of high character, both in and out of business circles, and his work 
has a reputation which is second to none in Savannah. 



84 SAVA^^s'AH — her 



CARNETT, STUBBS & CO.— Cott07i Factors and Commission Merchants, 94 

liiiy Street. 

Among the many industries that have tended to enlarge and extend the commercial 
importance of Savannah, perhaps no one has had a more favorable inliueuce upon 
the mercantile relations of the community than the cotton trade, and certainly no 
house in the trade exhibits more energy and enterprise than that of Garnett, Stubbs 
& Co. This establishment enjoys a reputation of which the proprietors have a right 
to be proud, and deserves more than a passing notice in a work devoted t > the indus- 
tries and commercial pursuits of Savannah. The business is conducted on the 
highest principles of honor, with great energy and ability, and to these facts, to- 
gether with the genial, courteous manners of the members of the firm, is due the 
eminent success it has obtained and the prominent position it occupies in the com- 
mercial affairs of the city. This enterprise was founded in 18GG by Groover, Stubbs 
& Co., and this firm being dissolved in 4876, the business was continued by C. F. 
Stubbs & Co. In 1881 the senior member of this firm died and the present one was 
organized. The business of this firm is large, requiring the assistance of sixteen 
competent and experienced men in the various departments of the establishment. 
Their consignments are largely from South Carolina and Georgia, but obtain some 
supplies from Florida and Alabama also, and are amply prepared to make liberal 
cash advances on consignments, also furnish bagging and ties. They handle between 
35,000 and 40,000 bales of cotton each year, and this house ranks among the largest 
in the city. The individual members of the firm are Messrs. John K. Garnett, Thos. 
F. Stubbs and M. Y. Maclntyre, all native Georgians, who have been engaged in this 
line all their business lives. Prompt, reliable and honorable in all transactions, this 
house is justlj^ entitled to the esteem and confidence of the general public. 



JO C. THOWPSOH— Wholesale and Retail Groceries, No. 166 BrowjMon, 
corner Barnard. 

The best evidence that the South, and particularl}^ that Savannah, is as wide-awake 
and energetic as any other portion of the Union, is evinced b}' the number of j'oung 
men who of late years have started business on their own account, and persevering in 
the face of every difficulty have disputed, and still dispute, the palm of business enter- 
prise with old and long established houses. No better evidence of this fact is shown 
in Savannah than by a glance at the grocery store of Mr. J. C. Thompson. This 
gentleman, though established onl}^ since 187G, has already won a position in the 
mercantile world for energy and reliability, and all the qualities which make a suc- 
cessful business man, not excelled by firm or individual in Savannah. He was 
formerly in the cotton and commission business, but determined to start for himself in 
1876, and has succeeded beyond his expectations. His store is 35x50 feet in dimen- 
sions, well ventilated and arranged ; the stock is valued at $6,000, and the annual 
sales amount to upwards of $100,000. Mr. Thompson deals largely in all kinds of 
country produce, rice, hides, tallow and other articles of general use, of which he 
receives large consignments. Six hands are employed at good wages. Mr. Thomp- 
son is a native of Augusta, Ga. , but has lived in and identified himself with Savannah 
and its interest since boyhood. He stands well in all respects and is generally popu- 
lar with all classes. His success is an eloquent lesson to all who may falter in the 
work of life — and a visit to his bus}' establishment will well repay the time spent there. 
We would recommend him to all who would wish fair dealing and the l)est articles to 
be obtained. 



TRADE, COMMERCE AND INDUSTRIES. 



85 



PETER LINDENSTRUTH— Je^re/er, Broughton Street. 

Among the jewelry establishments of Savannah, noted as they are as being equal 
to any in the country for elegance and taste, there is none more conspicuous than the 
well-known one of Mr. Peter Lindenstruth. Situated in the central portion of the 
city, in a locality most favorable for trade, it has since its inception taken and re- 
tained u position second to none. Here may be seen all the latest and most popular 
styles of jewelry, selected from the leading manufacturers of the country, and 
arranged with a taste and eye to effect which enhance their beauty in a marked 
degree. Mr. Lindenstruth sells the finest watches of American and European make 
all guaranteed, and which invariably give satisfaction to the buyer in all respects. 
The stock is large and varied, and the sales (which extend over the city and State) 
reach a large yearly amount. Mr. Lindenstruth is a native of Sweden, but has re- 
sided in America for many years. He has had a long and thorough training at his 
profession, and is a careful and conscientious workman, and commands the respect 
and esteem of his numerous customers. His workmen are all skillful, and under his 
supervision turn out work equal to any in the city. No establishment in the city is 
more deserving of patronage than this popular and well-known house. 




S. CUCKENHEIMER & SON— Wholesale Grocers, 149 and 151 Bay Street. 

In the history of the advance and development of cities from the condition of 
villages, through the period when, throwing off the habiliments of uncertain youth, 
they begin to assume the lusty, vigorous characteristics of self-reliant manhood, and 
assert their claim to metropolitan recognition, the wholesale grocery trade must 

always occupy a prominent posi- 
tion, as it conduces more than any 
other branch to a prosperous and 
progressive passage through that 
critical age in the lives of all com- 
mercial centers — the future being 
dependent entirely on the enter- 
prise and fearless business opera- 

tions of their merchants. There 

is no more important factor in this commercial growth, no more unerring index by 
which to judge of the possibilities of a city, than the grocery trade. It is the mer- 
cantile barometer, by which to foretell approaching prosperity or wrecked antici- 
pation. Savannah has a number of grocery establishments, all we believe in a 
prosperous condition, the most prominent of which (forming our judgment from 
general acknowledgment) is that of S. Guckenheimer & Son. A striking example of 
progress, and of what energy, quick perception of business and fair dealing may 
accomplish, is afforded by the history of this well-known house, wliich has become 
one of the landmarks of the city. We accord them this position, not from any claims 
made by themselves, not from any desire to make invidious comparisons, but from 
the fact of their long connection with the business, their extended transactions, high 
standing and marked reputation. This house has from the outset taken a conspicuous 
position for energy, industrious application, and rapid and solid increase in their 
business. The commercial biography of all prosperous cities evidences in no uncer- 
tain language that the first architects of their mercantile structure were houses such 



86 



SAVANNAH HER 



as this. Sedulouslj'^ attentive to their own affairs, and ever quick to exert their 
inrtuenee for the general thrift, they have pursued their course in legitimate channels, 
and gained prosperity by honorable, upright business policy. This business was 
established in 1860 by S. Guckenheimer, the senior of the present firm, with small 
capital. In 1S65 the firm title became Guckenheimer & Selig, which firm was dis- 
solved in 1872 — Mr. Selig having died in 1870. The terms of partnership permitted 
(while it did not enjoin) the continuance of the family's interest in the business for 
two years subsequent to his death. Mr. Guckenheimer continued the business alone 
from that date until 1877, when by the admission of Mr. E. J. Acosta, Jr., the firm 
was changed to S. Guckenheimer & Co. In 1880 this firm changed, and Mr. Gucken- 
heimer succeeded; and in 1881, by the admission of his son, Mr. Sam. S. Gucken- 
heimer, the present firm name of S. Guckenheimer & Son was adopted. From the 
small beginning before alluded to, this business has grown to be one of the largest 
in the whole South, the stock carried being very large and comprehensive, including 
every article pertaining to this line, and the yearly transactions approximating almost 
$1,000,000. The extensive buildings occupied are hives of industry and activity; 
the main building has a frontage of 60 feet on Bay street by a depth of 90 feet. 
The carrying on of operations in this building under the direct supervision of the 
proprietors enables them to guarantee the purity and quality of all goods i)ut upon 
the market, and gives them a reputation second to none. In addition, they have a 
warehouse for storage 60 feet by 90 feet. Some idea of the extent and magnitude 
of their transactions may be had from the fact that they emplo}' over twenty hands in 
various capacities, and that their trade radiates through the States of Georgia, 
Florida, South Carolina and Alabama, reaching all important centres. Another fact 
which will give some idea of the stock carried: the}- l)ring flour in train loads — one 
purchase requiring a train of fourteen cars to transport it. In every characteristic 
indicative of business enterprise and management they are well endowed. As an 
evidence of the public appreciation of his qualities as a business man and public 
spirited citizen, Mr. Guckenheimer has been selected to hold positions of honor, 
trust and confidence. He is a commissioner of the Sinking Fund of the City of 
Savannah, and a director in the Merchants National Bank. He is a member of the 
Board of Trade and of the Cotton Exchange. 

P. J. GOLDEN — Millinery and Stratv Goods, 134 Broughton Street. 

This well known and extensively patronized estal>lisbment was, until recently, con- 
ducted by Mrs. Anna Golden, but on her death Mr. P. J. Golden assumed the con- 
trol, and has vigorously advanced it in every respect. The business was started in 
1865 by Mrs. Golden, with moderate capital, since increased, and by care and atten- 
tion it has grown until now the stock is estimated at S3, 000, and the annual sales at 
§15,000. The store is 60x30 feet in dimensions, and contains a complete and fine 
assortment of all that pertains to the millinery trade, all of the goods being of the 
best quality and finish. An important brancli of the business, and one to which 
particular attention lias been paid, is the manufacture of Hair goods, and in this 
respect the establishment can boast of producing an article not inferior to any made 
in the country. Mr. Golden is a native of New York, born there in 18.'}4, but has 
lived in Savannah since 1855, participating in the rapid and lu-altliy growth of the 
city from that period up to the present time. He is a gentleman of excellent stand- 
ing and business capacity, generally popular with his numerous customers. 



TRADE, COIVEVIERCE AND INDrSTRIES. 87 

J. W. TEEPLE — Cotton Ginner and Purchaser of Cotton in the Seed (Uplands, 
Sea Islands, etc.), and Dealer in Cotton Seed, Nos. 2 and 4iWilJiainson Street. 
Cotton, above all other products of the soil, requires a careful and thorough cleans- 
ing from all impurities, Jbefore being fitted to be baled for export, and to accomplish 
this ginning is necessary. The immense amount of cotton received at Savannah has 
given rise to several establishments for ginning, and among these the largest by far is 
the well-known one of J. W. Teeple, which has been in existence since 1867, and has 
always maintained its place at the head. His trade is now general through Georgia, 
South Carolina and Florida, is rapidly increasing, and swells the aggregate amount 
of trade in Savannah. The establishment comprises one gin-house, 50 feet square, 
which contains one engine of twelve-horse-power ; one warehouse, 24 feet square, in 
connection with gin-house, and a building, 75 feet square, for storage and salesroom. 
His oflSce is at Nos. 2 and 4 Williamson Street, where he transacts a lucrative and satis- 
factory trade, which is steadily increasing. The ginnery is situated on the Thunder- 
bolt road, one of the most beautiful suburbs of Savannah. He gives employment 
to upwards of twenty hands, who receive ampleTpay for their services. Mr. Teeple 
is a native of Canada, but having lived in Savannah for the past twenty years is 
as much interested in the city and her development as any native-born citizen. He 
purchases, at the best prices, upland and sea island cotton in the seed, also deals 
largely in cotton seed, and buys cotton in bulk at liberal prices. We cheerfully 
recommend him to all who need work in his line, as one who is most liberal and fair 
in all transactions, and with whom it is a pleasure to deal. 

DALE, WELLS & CO. — Manufacturers and Decders in Yellow Pine Lumber and 
Timber, Wheaton, East End of Liberty Street. 
The history of the lumber interests of this city presents to the gatherer of statistics 
facts of unusual interest. Savannah is most advantageously situated in a section of 
this country remarkable for the prolific growth of timber. The development of this 
important trade in its various branches has given constant employment to numerous 
laborers and skilled mechanics, and listed in active service as much executive and 
financial ability as any branch of business in which human energy and enterprise have 
been employed. Among the most prominent establishments in this connection, the 
mills of Messrs. Dale, Wells & Co. may be said to occupy a leading position, not only 
for the magnitude and range of their operations, but also for the excellent quality of 
their products. This enterprise has been in continuous operation since 1868, and 
has had a most successful career in every respect. The present firm are successors 
to J. J.Dale & Co., Mr. F. W. Dale having bought one-third interest in the business, 
and he is now superintendent of the mill in the timber district. The mill is situated 
66 miles out on the Savannah, Florida & Western R. R. , in a part of the country 
abounding in timber, and is provided with all the modern machinery and appliances, 
for insuring rapid and perfect work in this line. Fourteen miles of tram-road are 
used by this firm in carrying timber to the mill, and three engines are required in 
prosecuting the work. Every facility that could be desired is enjoyed here. In the 
several departments of the work 175 employees are engaged constantly, who receive 
liberal wages. Mr. J. J. Dale is from Wisconsin, is experienced in the lumber busi- 
ness, and under his careful and conservative management the operations of the house 
are sure to be extended. Mr. David Wells, the other member of the firm, is from 
Pennsylvania ; he has resided here thirty-four years, possesses many friends and 



SAVANNAH HER 



patrons in business circles, and is energetic and in every wsij reliable, meriting in 
the fullest degree the consideration awarded him by the public. Collectively, this is 
one of the most extensive and best known establishments in the South, and a large 
foreign trade is supplied with lumber and timber, as well as tbat of the United States, 
which is extensive. This tirm have achieved a place in the esteem of the community 
as richl}' deserved as it is sincere. 

F. L. GEORGE — Wholesale and Retail Grocer, No. 32 WJiitaker, corner State St. 
The immense growth of the grocery trade throughout the Union has stimulated and 
aided that of all other branches in more ways than one, and has also induced 
many young men to strike for themselves in this particular line. In Savannah no 
firm has a more promising future, and none stands higher in all respects than the well- 
known establishment of Mr. F. L. George ; and his success has been as gratifying to 
his friends as it has been beneficial to himself. Commencing in 1881 with small 
capital, but an abundant fund of energy and determination, he has worked himself up 
to a position not inferior to that occupied b}'^ any similar firm in the city. His store is 
divided into one large main room, 40x40, and a wing 20x15, and a cellar, and con- 
tains a complete and carefully selected stock of groceries of all st^des and grades, 
averaging in value $3,000, while the annual sales amount to upwards of $35,000, 
thus making a replenishment of the stock necessarj^ several times in the course of a 
year. Four hands are employed, who are kept busy attending to the numerous 
customers who come and go constantlj'' throughout the entire day. The store is 
admirably situated for trade, being in a central part of the city and between the two 
great thoroughfares. Bull and Broughton Streets. Mr. George is a native of Savannah, 
born there in 1856, and has during his entire business career been in the business 
which he now follows. He is well-known throughout the community, is prompt, 
industrious and reliable, and enjoys the confidence of all classes. His success is 
remarkable for one of his age, and is a brilliant prestige of the future. 



J. H. HENHESSY— Grits, Meal, Cracked Corn, Etc.; Mill at Cor. Hull and 

East Broad Streets. 

It is the purpose of this work to aid in the development of the manufacturing and 
commercial interests of the city, by disseminating such intelligence regarding the 
advantages possessed by our manufacturers and dealers as will draw attention to their 
facilities. The Industrial ISfills, owned and operated by INIr. J. H. Hennessy, were 
established ten years ago, and a trade has been built up in the city and vicinity which 
will compare most favorably with that of anj' similar concern in Savannah. Mr. 
Hennessy dealslargely in grits, meal, cracked corn, oats, bran, hay, feed and wood, and 
mill and residence are located at the corner of Hull and East Broad Streets. The 
building occupied is two stories in height, fifty feet square, with additions, and in the 
grinding department are two run of stones, which are operated by an engine of twentj- 
horse power. Six emplo3'ees are required in the prosecution of the business, and a 
full line of goods in this department of trade is kept on hand at all times, the sales 
reaching S5,000 per annum. Orders bj^ telephone will be promptly and carefully 
attended to, and none but the best and most desirable articles are kept in stock. Mr. 
Hennessy is a native of Ireland, but is strongly identified with the progress and 
prosperity of the city of his adoption. Savannah owes much of its business pros- 
perity to such establishments, which not only produce excellent goods, but whose pro- 
prietors are alike noted for probity and honorable business transactions. 



TKADE, COMMERCE AND INDUSTRIES. 89 



T. L, KINSEY — Manufacturer and Dealer in Lumber; Office, No. 178 Bay Street. 
The lumber trade of Savannah is of much greater magnitude than many people 
suppose ; and it occupies, in some of its various ramifications, a force quite formidable 
as to numbers. There are but few, even of our best informed citizens, who have 
watched with sufficient interest its late developments and enlargements, or who have 
reflected upon the unlimited resources about us, yet undeveloped, but certainly to be 
drawn upon in the grander conquests of that near and swift approaching future. One 
half the territory of the United States is destitute of a surplus of timber, and depends 
upon what the other half can supply. The location of Savannah, and its favorable 
situation and accessibility to the immense lumber region of this section, place us on 
the favored, exceptional side of the subject, and render our facilities, in this respect, 
unsurpassed, if equalled. Mr. T. L. Kinsey came to this city from New York in 1865, 
and engaged in business as a manufacturer and dealer in lumber and timber, makino- 
a specialty of yellow pine, and has attained a most prominent position in the trade. 
His saw mill on Hutchinson's Island is the largest in this locality, the building occu- 
pied being 40 by 180 feet in size, two stories high, and it is provided with the latest 
and best improved machinery and appliances for work in this line, including two cir- 
cular saws and gang edgers, the two engines required for motive power aggregating 
180 horse power. Thirty employees are engaged at work at all times, and their pro- 
ducts are shipped to foreign and domestic ports^ in fact, all over the world. The 
capacity of these works is 40,000 feet per diem, and the annual business transacted 
reaches $150,000. 

A. E. SIVIITH & BRO. — Wholesale Dealers in Tobaccos, Cigars and Liquors, 
No. 141 Bay Street. 

Savannah is now recognized as one of the greatest distributing points of the South, 
merchants from all sections coming to her to purchase articles of food and luxury 
which can be obtained there cheaper than elsewhere. Especially is this noticeable as 
regards the wholesale tobacco and cigar as well as the liquor trade. Among the firms 
whose sales extend over a vast section of country, we notice the well-known firm of 
A. E. Smith & Bro., whose trade extends over Georgia, Florida, South Carolina and 
Alabama, and amounts to over $175,000 per annum, and is growing rapidly. Their 
establishment comprises two floors, each 30x90 ft., and filled with a large and care- 
fully selected stock. The tobacco and cigars are all of the best known brands, and 
are warranted. They embrace Havanas, Manillas, Key West, the most celebrated 
manufactures of Virginia, New York and other cities. Their liquors are the very 
purest obtainable ; and, in this age of adulteration, it is with pride that any house 
can say this. Their wines, brandies and other liquors are selected from the best 
manufacturers in the country, and are invariably the best, being selected by the firm 
themselves. Mr. A. E. Smith and Mr. H. L. Smilh comprise the firm. They are 
both natives of Germany, but have lived in Savannah since 1865. They are well 
known as straightforward and honorable dealers, both here and throughout the South, 
and stand well in other respects. Those who wish the best cigars, tobacco and 
liquors, and at the most reasonable prices, can do no wiser thing than to call at this 
establishment, or send their orders by mail, which will receive immediate attention, 
and will be satisfactorily filled. Messrs. Smith & Bro. watch keenly the markets 
where they purchase their goods, and are always wide awake to secure bargains. No 
firm stands higher or is more respected than they. 



90 SAVAXNAH HER 



SOLOMONS & CO.— Drugs and Medicines, No. 167 Congress Street. 

The imijortation, manufacture and dispensing of drugs, medicines and chemicals, 
at the present day, may justly be ranked among the most important and lucrative 
branches of business in our city, and there are circumstances connected with the pro- 
gress and present condition of the several departments which are worthy the attention 
of the mercantile public. The original apothecary in primitive times was the practicing 
physician, who imported his own supply of drugs and dispensed them himself. It 
has not been many years since the legitimate druggist was^first known in the United 
States, for Bishop, in his "History of American Manufactures, " says: "The war 
of 1812, and the commercial restrictions which preceded it, caused such a scarcity 
and dearness of chemicals, that numbers attempted the preparation of the more prom- 
inent articles, and the complete establishment of the manufacturing business in this 
country dates from that period. Many of these works were undertaken bj' foreign- 
ers who had learned something of chemical manipulations in German, French and 
EngHsli factories, or by capitalists among our own druggists, who made use of for- 
eign skill, or pretentions to skill, in getting their works into operation. " The drug- 
gist having entered the field, he soon relieved the physician from compounding 
prescriptions, and thus separated the apothecar}' from the mere shop-keeper, and 
elevated the business to a professional rank. And inasmuch as the business touches 
on the one hand the science of medicine, and on the other that of chemistry, it may 
be forcibly added, he who is the best educated, who combines worldly common sense 
and prudence in managing his business, the greatest scientific skill in his calling, is gen- 
erally the one destined to be most successful in the pursuit of wealth. Our purpose in this 
work is to refer, in descriptive sketches, to the representative houses in every branch, 
and in doing this it is necessary to select prominent establishments, considering more 
particularly those whose success has made them conspicuous, and gained for the pro- 
prietors positions eminent in the mercantile history of the city, the character of a 
business man being properly measured by honorable success. The drug trade of this 
or any other city is one of the most important factors in the make-up of her commer- 
cial interests, and it exercises an influence not out-measured by any other branch. 
The establishment of Solomons & Co. was founded in 1845, by A. A. Solomons, who 
afterwards associated his brothers J. M. and M. J. Solomons in business with him, the 
firm style being changed then to A. A. Solomons «& Co. Without an 3^ change in personnel 
the present style was adopted in 1871, and the house has maintained a position in the 
front rank throughout its career. The premises occupied at No. 167 Congress Street 
consist of a brick building, 22 by 90 feet in dimensions, three floors and a basement 
being twWy occupied in tiie transaction of business, while a warehouse 30 by 60 feet 
is also required for storing surplus supplies. They carry a complete line of drugs, 
chemicals, patent medicines and pharmaceutical preparations, surgical instruments 
and appliances, and such sundries as pertain exclusively to their business ; the stock 
is large and complete, the transactions being commensurate in magnitude, while 
twelve assistants are constantly busy attending to the business of the firm. The ex- 
tent of the business, which radiates through this State, Florida, South Carolina and 
Alabama, fully attests the success this firm has met with, and the ability and integrity 
with which the trade has been managed. They are proprietors of Solomon's pills, and 
other preparations which have gained a wide-spread reputation. The individual 
members of the firm are Messrs. J. M. and M. J. and I. A. Solomons, the two for- 
mer gentlemen having been residents of Savannah for the past forty years, the latter 



TRADE, COMJIERCE AND INDUSTRIES. 91 

being a native of our city. Mr. M. J. Solomoms is president of the Southern Mutual 
Loan Association, and Mr. I. A. Solomons is a member of the Cotton Exchange, also 
a director in the Pulaski Loan Association. Mr. J. M. Solomons is a member of the 
Board of Management of the City Hospital and Savannah Benevolent Association. 
These gentlemen give personal attention to the business, ensuring customers and cor- 
respondents just and liberal dealing, accuracy in filling orders and prompt attention. 
This establishment is one of the largest in this line in our city; its proprietors have been 
engaged in this business since boyhood, and are fully identified with the progress 
and prosperity of the city, and the house is equally an honor to them and a credit to 
this, the Forest City of the South. 

CEORCE V. HECKER & CO. —llcmufacturers of Self-Bising Flour, Baking 
Poicder. Farina, etc., No. 176 Bay Street. 

Few business houses in this city, or indeed anywhere, have advanced to a position 
of greater prominence in the commercial world, or attained a reputation extending 
throughout a larger scope of territory, in so short a space of time, as has the subject 
of this sketch. It has been the aim of Messrs. Hecker & Co. to produce a superior 
quality of articles manufactured by them, and their success is shown by the large 
trade supplied by them. The farina, wheaten grits and baking powder, flour, and 
self-rising flour made by this firm are considered among the best put upon the market 
and are universally used throughout the country, merchants keeping them on sale, 
hotels, steamships and private families being the consumers. Messrs. Hecker & Co. 
have purchased and adopted the best modern machinery, to be used in the production 
of these articles. The firm packs their goods in barrels, half barrels, bags and smaller 
packages for retailers, and most convenient for shipment. Their baking powder 
defies competition with others manufactured, enjoys a ready sale and wide-spread 
popularity. The premises are located on the principal business street of the city, 
convenient for shipment, and the trade is conducted with promptness and ability, 
goods being delivered promptly to all parts of the city. The territory supplied by this 
house consists of a large portion of this part of the South, and in amount of business 
ranks equal to first-class houses of Savannah, The business is conducted upon a ba- 
sis of liberality and equity that redounds to the great popularity that the house 
already enjoys. The firm is composed of men of executive ability and enterprise, and 
their business conduces to the prosperity of the city, as do their goods to the health 
of our people. 



L. J. CUILMARTIN & CO, — Cotton Factors and Commission Merchants, No. 
120 Bay Street. 

Among the representative and staunch firms, that have maintained their standing 
and integrity through a long and successful business career, that of L. J. Guilmar- 
tin & Co. holds by general consent a prominent place. Mr. L. J. Guilmartin, the 
senior member of the firm, with one exception is the oldest merchant in Bay Street, 
having gone into the commission business in 1856. Since 1865, though having differ- 
ent partners, the firm name has continued L. J. Guilmartin & Co. Dr. Charles R. 
Herron, late of Pensacola, Florida, the junior partner, became a member of the firm 
in June 1880. This firm has ample means and facilities to manage all business that 
may be intrusted to it, and is too well known throughout Georgia, and many parts of 
South Carolina, Florida and Alabama to require any further notice from us. 



92 



SAVANNAH HER 



JOHN NICOLSON — Dealer in Plumbers', Gas and Steam Fitters' and Machiiiists' 
t^uppUes, SO and 32 Drayton Street. 

The eslablishment of Mr. John Nicolson is centrally located on Drayton Street, 
and occupies a very conspicuous place in the business community of Savannah. 
Mr. Nicolson was born in Scotland, and served an apprenticeship in his chosen pro- 
fession with the thoroughness characteristic of the Scottish people. He came to 
Savannah at an early date, started his present business in 1853, and by thoroughness, 
reliabilit}' and excellenee of work has risen to be, beyond dispute, the leading plumber 

of Savannah. The premises occupied are 30 by 
60 feet in dimensions, and are filled with a va- 
ried and complete assortment of goods. There 
is also a beautiful display room for chandeliers, 
fancy and plain globes, brackets, and, in fact, 
an endless variety of goods. The house makes 





a specialty of pump fitting in all its branches, 
rubber hose and steam packing, and cut and fit 
all sizes of pipes up to six inches in diameter. 
Estimates are cheerfully furnished, on applica- 
tion, to all who may desire them. Mr. Nicolson 
gives employment to from fifteen to twenty hands, 
all well paid and first-class workmen. He is assisted by his son, an active and ener- 
getic young gentleman, who ably seconds his father in his work. He is agent for the 
best manufacturers of goods in his line in the country, and always carries a full and 
well-selected stock of their goods, which he sells at most reasonable figures. In all 
respects the establishment of Mr. Nicolson is a model one, and he himself is re- 
garded as one of the most reliable, conscientious and far-seeing business men in 
Savannah, and worthy in all respects of the most liberal patronage from all. 



TRADE, COJEVIERCE AND INDUSTRIES. 93 

LOUIS VOCEL — Importer Cigars and Tobacco^ 22 Drayton Street. 

A good cigar is one of the consolations of life which cannot be too highly esti- 
mated. It soothes and calms the nerves, after the excitement and rush of business, 
and aids the digestion, thus being a boon and blessing to all who use it. In view, 
therefore, of the immense consumption of tobacco and cigars in the United States, 
it is very important to know where to get the best brands of these articles at the 
most reasonable prices. la Savannah no establishment sells better cigars or tobacco 
and all smokers' articles, and few as good, as the old and well-known stand of Louis 
Vogel. Started in 1866, by the present proprietor, it has from the beginning occu- 
pied a leading position among the tobacco stores of Savannah ; the elegant quality of 
its goods is attested by all who deal there — and their name is legion. Mr. Vogel's 
store is of ample proportions, and stands in a thoroughfare most favorable to trade. 
He keeps a complete stock of domestic and foreign cigars and tobacco, which he 
imports direct from the factories. Mr. Vogel was engaged in the tobacco trade 
fifteen years in Germany, and his products have gained the favor of his customers 
here. Being a practical workman, his manufactures have taken the first prize at 
the Savannah fairs. Among the brands of his make are Vogel's Punch, Favorite, 
Savannah, Centennial, and others. On account of his long experience, Mr. Vogel 
enjoys unusual facilities, which place him beyond competition. His stock of pipes 
is varied, consisting of all styles of meerschaums, brier-root, etc. Mr. V. is a 
German by birlh, but has resided in America for a number of years. 

MUIR, DUCKWORTH & CO.— Cotton Exporters and Commission, 132 Bay St. 
Geographically situated in that section of this continent where vegetation in- 
digenous to tropical latitudes flourishes to its greatest perfection. Savannah, by natu- 
ral laws as well as those of political economy, is dependent for commercial progress 
and prosperity on the quality and fecundity of her agricultural resources. The fos- 
tering and stimulation of these interests logically becomes the most important factor 
in her mercantile growth and financial solidity. To this end branches of business 
which encourage production, by facilitating the profitable disposition of these pro- 
ducts in the centres of demand, exercise a healthy and progressive influence. The 
markets of England control, to a great extent, the temper of the demand for cotton 
and the ruling rates ; domestic markets consume but a fractional portion of the sup- 
ply, hence the coast cities directly, and through them the producer indirectly, are 
dependent on foreign demand for profitable results for labor expended in production. 
For the purpose of facilitating their own affairs, English dealers have established 
branches in this country, managed in most instances by one of the senior partners, 
as they realize that a business transaction can be better accomplished in person at the 
centre of production than by middle-men. Savannah has several of these, they 
may be termed Anglo-American houses, the oldest and most prominent of which is 
that of Muir, Duckworth & Co., established in Charleston, South Carolina, in 1810, 
by Walter Duckworth, who was succeeded there by Joseph Battersby, about 1820 ; 
in Savannah, in 1842, under firm title of Wm. Battersby & Co., which was changed 
in 1870 to Muir & Duckworth, the present style being adopted in 1881. The part- 
ners are — Francis Muir, who resides in Liverpool, England; Joseph Battersby Duck- 
worth, the resident partner ; and Lewis Tatnale Turner. The firm have houses in 
Liverpool and Manchester, England, and in Galveston, New Orleans and this city. 
The operations of the house are very extensive, their long connection with the trade 



94 SAVANNAH HER 



and high commercial standing having given them a world-wide reputation and remark- 
able prestige in the business ; and we question whether any branch of commercial 
pursuit creates equal or more widel}'' extended reputation than those connected with 
the cotton trade of England. The transactions of this firm are amongst the most 
extensive in this countr}-, reaching 180,000 bales annually, 50,000 of which are handled 
by the Savannah branch. Mr. Duckworth is president of the Savannah Cotton 
Exchange, and a director of the Cotton Press Association. Mr. Muir is vice-presi- 
dent of the Liverpool Cotton Association. Mr. Duckworth is a native of England, 
resident of this city since 1867. Mr. Turner is a native Georgian. The biography 
of such houses, brief though it must be- in our circumscribed space, is especially 
interesting in connection with the rapidly growing cotton trade of the city, which in 
the last few years has assumed the second position in the United States — gained, 
against strenuous rivalry, by the sheer enterprise and ability' of her merchants. 

W. C. JACKSON & CO.— Xaval Stores Factors, 138 Bay Street. 

The sudden development of anj^ one branch of trade in a city like Savannah is 
always a healthy sign. It evinces an energj^ and push among those most actively 
engaged in that branch, whatever it be, which must eventually place it among the 
leading interests. Such has been the case with the naval stores trade of Savannah, 
which within a few years has attained such proportions as to entitle the city to the 
rank of the greatest naval stores depot in the countr}'. Among the firms who have 
been most engaged in this line, and to whom a great part of the increase is due, we 
notice the firm of W. C. Jackson & Co. Founded in 1877, it assumed the present 
stjde in 1873, Mr. J. B. Chestnut being the "Co." Both these gentlemen are natives 
of North Carolina, but have resided in Savannah seven years. Having been in this 
business all their business lives, the firm have ample experience, and their general 
high reputation and capacity insure them the confidence of the community. Their 
extensive business connections and ample capital make them as desirable a firm to 
deal with as can be found anywhere ; and being in constant communication with the 
great naval stores markets of the world, they can dispose of consignments at the 
highest prices. Correspondence with them will doubtless result in profit and satis- 
faction to all concerned. 



W. B. FERRELL — Parlor Restaurant, llGh Broxighton Street. 

This restaurant, though recentlj^ opened, has already become one of the insti- 
tutions of Savannah, and people who partake of its toothsome and well-prepared 
dishes wonder how they ever managed to get along without it. Situated on the great 
thoroughfare of Savannah, and attractively and handsomelj^ fitted up, it is well cal- 
culated to tempt the passer by to step in and examine the bill of fare. Everything 
about the premises is neat and orderly, and conducted with system and regularity. 
The waiters are well trained and attentive, and always on the alert to serve custom- 
ers, and the proprietor superintends in person all the work of the establishment, 
thereby insuring perfection in the smallest details. The table is alwaj^s well sup- 
I plied with the best that can be obtained, regardless of price. Mr. Ferrell is a native 
of Milledgeville, Georgia, but has resided in Savannah since 1845, and is therefore 
entitled to rank as a Savannahian. An experienced and conscientious caterer, he is 
well fitted to preside over the establishment"; and we advise a call on him at an early 
date, knowing that he who goes there once will most surely return. 



TRADE, COJIMERCE AND INDUSTRIES. 95 





KEHOE'S IRON yNORKS— Corner Broughton and Randolph Streets. 

In all Savannah, teeming as it is with industry and enterprise, there is no more 
striking example of what can be accomplished by energy and perseverance than this 
establishment. Mr. Kehoe is a natural mechanic, and to this has added twenty-five 
years of steady and persistent attention to his 
trade, and now stands as high in his profession as( 
any man in Savannah. Within the past year he 
has built his new foundry, and made additions 
which have materially increased the productive 
power of his establishment. Mr. Kehoe frequently adopts new im- 
provements and modifications in his business, and is always on the 
alert for such. An eminently practical workman, all work which 
passes through his shop is planned and finished under his eye, and the slightest 
imperfection or blemish is carefully noted, and rectified immediately. With his 
present facilities, he is enabled to be prompt in all his work, and also to guarantee it. 
He has adopted the MacKenzie cupola and blower, the best in the market. His trade 
extends over the Southern States. About thirty-five hands find steady employment 
here, at liberal wages. He makes a specialty of sugar mills and pans, of which num- 
bers have been sold, and also does all kinds of brass and iron castings, architectural 
iron work, and work for churches, stores and dwellings. A native of Ireland, he has 
spent most of his life in Savannah, and is fully identified with the city of which he is 
so worthy a representative. 

W. C. MORRELL— i^tce Broker, 76 Bay Street. 

Rice, which is the food of more than three-fourths of the human race, was for a 
long time only an experiment in the South. The first rice planted was in Charleston, 
being a small quantity brought from Madagascar by the captain of a trading vessel, 
and by him presented to a gentleman of Charleston, who, more froin curiosity than 
anything else, dropped them in his garden, where they grew and flourished as natu- 
rally as in their native clime. From this grew the cultivation of rice in the South, 
and with such rapidity that in 1724 over 100,000 bogheads were exported to 
Europe, the consequence being that the South was probably the richest section 
of the Union. The war of 1861 only temporarily checked the growth of rice cul- 
ture, and to-day the annual crop of the South is greater than ever before. Savan- ' 
nah has several houses who deal largely in rice, and among them as one of the 
most prominent and enterprising, and who by competent attention to their business, 
and unceasing vigilance in watching the most advantageous markets for the sale of 
rice consigned to them, we may instance Mr. W. G. Morrell. He has had a life-long 
experience in the business, and has thoroughly studied the rice question, and to-day 
no man in Savannah understands more thoroughly his business than he. His favor- 
able location in the most prominent part of the city enables him to keep posted on all 
current items, of which he is not slow to avail himself. His receipts amount to 
25,000 barrels of rough rice and 15,000 of clean rice, and are increasing. His sales 
extend over the Eastern, Western and Southern States, and being in direct communi- 
cation with the largest houses in these sections, he is enabled to offer inducements to 
consignors which but few can offer. Mr. Morrell is a gentleman of high standing in 
every way, and planters and others having business in his line would do well to 
open correspondence with him. 



96 SAVANNAH HER 



KNICKERBOCKER ICE CO 142, 144 and 146 Bay Street, Dealers in Ice, 

Coal, etc. 

It is our duty not only to give a correct history of the business interests of Savan- 
nah, but also to note the enterprises of the city individually, and among these, one 
of the most important in every respect, both from its general usefulness and its im- 
portant bearing on the other branches, is the Knickerbocker Ice Company. This 
company is a branch of the Knickerbocker of Philadelphia, and has been established 
in Savannah about seven years. During that time its trade has increased in a 
most gratifying proportion. Its sales of ice wagons, tools and niachinerj' extend 
over Florida, South Carolina and Georgia, in all parts of which the company is well 
known. The city trade, which consists of the delivery of ice to hotels, steamers and 
private families, is quite extensive. About five j'ears ago the company also added 
coal to their business, and its success in this line has been most gratifying. Thirty 
hands are employed, at good wages, and a large number of wagons and carts. Mr. 
J. F. Cavannaugh, the manager, is a native of Savannah, and is a gentleman of 
business ability and tact. Having been connected with the company' from its in- 
ception, he understands all the details of the business and its management. As the 
representative of the company, and in other respects, Mr. Cavannaugh is highly 
esteemed by all, and under his efficient management the company will no doubt con- 
tinue on its prosperous career. 

R. De MARTIN & SON — Gray Eagle Livery and Boarding Stables, Corner 
Drayton and Congress Streets. 

This branch of business is one which must elicit the attention of all who are 
interested in the general welfare of the city and the public at large, as well as form- 
ing an important record of prominence among the various industries of the city and 
State. It is one of those branches whose patrons are found at home and with the 
traveling public generally. The popular and model establishment in this lifle is 
most conveniently located at the corner of Drayton and Congress Streets, in close 
proximity to the best hotels in the city and the prominent business houses. Ample 
facilities are provided for a number of animals, and the business is prosecuted in all 
its details, in that prompt and efficient manner which should characterize these stables 
as the most complete of any in Savannah. The rigs are acknowledged to be among 
the finest turnouts in the city, and comprise buggies, single or double carriages, 
hacks, etc., with all the necessary equipments to meet the wants of an extensive and 
liberal patronage. Parties wishing to board their horses will find this a most desira- 
ble stable, as under the personal supervision of Mr. De Martin boarding horses as 
well as others receive strict care and attention. From twelve to fifteen horses are 
kept in the stables, the property of Mr. De Martin, and a tine supply of horses, bug- 
gies and carriages can be furnished for wedding parties, funerals, depot and pleas- 
ure calls at short notice. Five employees are required here, and horse clipping is 
done with neatness and dispatch. Mr. De Martin is a native of New Haven, Conn., 
where he had some cx])erience in this line, but upon coming here, in 1848, was at 
first engaged in the grocery trade, and subsequently started in his present business, 
which he has conducted successfully for fourteen years, and enjoys a large city trade. 
Possessing that adaptation to the business which comprehends its full requirements 
to meet the public demand, this enterprise -enjoys a prosperous and increasing busi- 
ness which fully justifies the liberal mention here accorded to it. 



TRADE, COMMERCE AND INDUSTRIES. 97 

RICHARDSON & BARNARD — Comviissiun Merchants^ Ship Brokers, Agents 
Boston Steam Ship Line, 1 00 Bay Street. 

Transportation is the foundation of commercial prosperity. The supremacy of all 
great mercantile centers has been achieved by the development of facilities for mov- 
ing the products of the country, attracting trade, and becoming centralizing marts for 
the resources of tributary country and inductively distributing depots. The history 
of all cities, both in ancient and modern times, demonstrates the fact that their posi- 
tions and reputation have been due to the enterprise and foresight of their merchants, 
who encouraged and fostered natural and artificial facilities for transportation, Ven- 
ice, as far back as 1100 A. D., ranked commercially as the leading city of the world. 
She was for centuries the admiration of all Europe ; and the chief instrument of her 
prosperity, and the main facility of a commerce not equaled by any nation, was her 
shipping, her merchant marine interests — as in modern times, in this country, cities 
(as Chicago) have become phenomenally great and prosperous by developing to the 
utmost all possible facilities for transportation. Coast cities, like Savannah, which 
rely almost for their very vitality on the agricultural resources of the country geo- 
graphically tributary to them, are more than, others dependent on marine facilities for 
transportation, for moving their resources, these cities being the depots both for de- 
position and distribution. Cotton and naval stores are the main factors in Savannah's 
commerce, are shipped here to be disposed of for the benefit of the producer, and so 
successfully have her merchants conducted their business that she now ranks as the 
second cotton and first naval store port in the South ; and while credit is certainly due 
the merchants, the ship-broker and steamship agent is entitled to equal consideration. 
The most prominent firm in this business in Savannah is that of Eichardson, Barnard 
&Co., established in 1864. Like most other lines of business, ship-brokerage re- 
quires special adaptation and education. The gentlemen composing this firm brought 
to their aid an experience of years ; the chief business of the firm is in chartering and 
loading foreign vessels, both sail and steam. The prompt manner in which this busi- 
ness has been conducted by Savannah operators has attracted to this port thousands 
of bales of cotton which but for their energy would seek sale and shipment at other 
ports. In the export of this staple this season to foreign ports Eichardson & Bar- 
nard have furnished tonnage for about 40 per cent. Where there is necessarily so 
much competition, this fact is stronger comment on their enterprise, business ability 
and faithful discharge of transactions intrusted to them, than any opinion we could 
express. In addition to this branch they also transact a large commission business, 
which in mutual influence to producers and consumers, or purchasers, is in all com- 
mercial centers one of the most important mercantile pursuits, attracting supplies to 
this market and benefiting domestic trade and demand. In no single way has Savan- 
nah been more profitably favored than by the establishment of lines for marine 
transportation to Northern ports — supplying facilities for moving products, and 
bringing stock to the trade in all branches at a more economical rate and almost 
as expeditiously as by rail. Another feature in the progress of both Savannah and 
Florida is the large winter travel of Northerners seeking the salubrity and clemency 
of the Southern climate. For evident reasons the sea voyage is preferable to the long 
tedious and uncomfortable trip by rail, and three-fourths of the invalids and visitors 
come by the steamships. Messrs. Eichardson & Barnard are the agents at this termi- 
nal point for the Boston and Savannah Steamship company, who have a regular line 
of first-class iron steamships sailing weekly from each port. These vessels are pro- 



98 SAVANNAH HER 



vided with all facilities and convenioncies used in first-class steamships, and their 
management has given universal and unqualified satisfaction. Edward C. Richardson, 
James M. Barnard, jr., and Clarence S. Connerat compose the firm. Their transac- 
tions extend through Georgia, Florida, Alabama, the New p:ngland States, and to 
P^urope. As a factor conducive in a very great degree to the prosperity, commer- 
cial progress and reputation of the city, this firm occupies a prominent position in the 
commercial history of Savannah ; conducting their transactions in the legitimate 
channels of honorable business, and liberal in their policy, they have achieved success 
and gained the esteem and confidence of the community. 



H, MYERS & BROS. — Manufacturers of Tobacco and Cigars, Importers and 
Uistillers of and Wholesale Dealers in Whiskies, Liquors, etc., 135 and 187 Bay Street, 
In reviewing the more prominent branches of trade in Savannah, many facts of 
special interest are demonstrated to the statistician. P^vidences of intelligent enterprise 
and business sagacity are met with in interests, which in the hands of men of enter- 
prise materiall}^ contribute to the commercial advancement and prosperit}'^ of a city. 
Business men who have the ability and judgment to forecast the mercantile possibili- 
ties of cities, and the intelligence to successfully organize and manage large estab- 
lishments and meet the demands of growing trade, not only achieve their own inde- 
pendence and business success, but by their efforts and energy stimulate others to 
industrious enterprise, and give tone to the commercial reputation of their city. 
Savannah is fortunate in the possession of some business men who b}^ energy and 
thrift, vigilant appreciation of her natural and acquired advantages, and who by not 
only fostering that trade geographically tributar}" to her, but with shrewd business 
practicality have reached out, won and held that of other trade centres. They have 
thus built up establishments and formed business connections not equalled by rival 
Southern cities, and made Savannah not only a centralizing point of trade, but a 
radiating one as well. In no branch have these facts been more fully borne out than 
in the tobacco and liquor business, and in this dual line we find by general acknowl- 
edgment the house of H. Myers & Bros, classed first, from their very extensive 
transactions, the completeness of their stock, and the well-known characteristics of 
the members of the firm. This house was established in 18G7 as Goodman & Myers ; 
in 1873 the interest of Mr. Goodman was purchased by the Myers Bros., and the pres- 
ent firm title was adopted. The resources in the outset were but moderate, finan- 
cially speaking, but the Messrs. Myers had abundant capital in enterprise, activity 
and business sagacit}', and their business increased rapidly and surely. They pushed 
their trade with determination, and carried their transactions into neighboring States, 
extending their reputation and infiuence graduall}^ and certainly, until tlie house took 
rank as the leading one in their lines in this section. Believing in and adhering to 
the maxim that the true road to success was by honorable dealing and handling first- 
class goods, they built tlieir reputation on this foundation, and their success has 
been most gratifying and substantial. They handle the most reputable brands of 
whiskies, imported and domestic brandies, wines and general liquors, their stock being 
probably the most select in the State. The Stonewall Jackson Pland-made Bourbon 
and Rye whisky handled by them has a reputation for purity and excellence not sur- 
passed by any brand in the country. They manufacture these at their own distillery 
in Madison County, Kentuck}^ and they are able, from experience and the zealous 
care exercised in manufacturing, to guarantee this brand as being almost without an 



TRADE, COIOIERCE AND rNDUSTRIES. 99 

equal. They handle large quantities of these whiskies, and they have given general 
and unqualified satisfaction. In tobacco and cigars they are among the largest 
operators in the country. They are proprietors of the Old Dominion Tobacco Works 
in Richmond, the largest factory in that city, another factory in Lynchburg, Va. , the 
El Modelo Cigar Factory, Jacksonville, Florida, and the Anchor Cigar Factory, New 
York City ; besides which they are agents for some of the most prominent brands in 
the country. They manufacture also popular grades from carefully selected leaf, and 
exercise the greatest care and judgment in all the processes of manufacture. Their 
business premises are large, well arranged, and conveniently located on one of the 
principal business streets of the city. The building has a frontage of 48 feet by 90 
feet in depth, two stories high, and a warehouse 30 by 75 feet, three stories high. 
They thus utilize 15,400 square feet of floor surface in the prosecution of their busi- 
ness. The stock carried in this city, which is but fractional, will average $50,000 in 
value. The transactions will reach $750,000 annually. Fourteen assistants are 
employed, of whom six travel through Georgia, South Carolina and Florida, in which 
States the trade of the Savannah house is located. They also have a branch house 
in Charleston, S. C. — Myers, Edel & Co. H., S. and F. Myers are the members of 
the firm, the two first natives and residents of Savannah, the last named of Rich- 
mond, Va. Mr. H. Myers is a member of the Board of Trade. The relation of bare 
facts in connection with a house of this character, as to its importance and influence, 
is argument enough, without comment on our part, to direct attention to the position 
held by the proprietors for sterling qualities, and the estimation of the public. 

A. A. WINN— CoWon Factor, 98 Bay Street. 

The cotton factors of Savannah must always hold a most important position in the 
record of her business and industries. The vast number of bales of cotton which an- 
nually pass through the city must necessarily be distributed among a number of 
firms. Among these we take occasion to mention that of Captain A. A. Winn. He 
is about entering upon his third year of doing business in his own name, and has built 
up a very snug trade upon a solid foundation. He has had a long experience in the 
cotton trade, entering the service of Groover, Stubbs & Co. in 1870 ; filling the posi- 
tion of cashier and correspondent for the greater part of the time which elapsed 
between that date and 1877, when the firm was dissolved by the death of Judge Chas. 
E. Groover. He then became interested with Mr. C. F. Stubbs, the successor of the 
firm of Groover, Stubbs & Co., subsequently a full partner in the firm of C. F. Stubbs 
& Co. In 1881 he opened business on his own account, and as yet has had no cause 
to regret the step then taken. Captain Winn is a native of Georgia, and entered the 
confederate army in 1861 as a private in the " Athens Guards," of Athens, Georgia, 
which became one of the companies of the famous 3rd Georgia Eegimerit. He fought 
through the greater part of the war with this regiment, filling the positions of sergeant- 
major and adjutant. In the latter part of 1864 he was promoted to a captaincy 
and assigned to the command of company " D, " Cobb's Georgia Legion Infantry. 
He participated in nearly all the great battles of the army of Northern Virginia, and 
made for himself an enviable record. He brings to his business the same thorough 
qualities which won him success as a soldier. He is a close and constant observer of 
the cotton business, is active and energetic and looks after the interests of his patrons, 
and takes a lively interest in the welfare of Savannah and his native State. 



100 SAVANNAH HER 



S. KROUSKOFF — Wholesale Millinery and Straw Goods, Flotvers, Feathers, 
liibbons, Etc., Manufacturer of Ladies^ Trimmed Hats, No. 19 and 19)4 Whitaker 
Street. 
There are few industries of the city of Savannah, which this comprehensive work 
will record, which require a higher and more refined taste than that of the milli- 
nery business ; but the eminent success which has attended the establishment and 
conduct of this branch of trade by Mr. S. Krouskoff for the past seventeen years is a 
sufficient evidence of his thorough adaptation to its requirements. This house was 
first started in 1865, and two years later was changed to an exclusively wholesale 
millinery establishment. The stock embraces, in wholesale quantities, millinery and 
straw goods, flowers, feathers, ribbons and other articles coming under this head, and 
the manufacture of ladies' trimmed hats and bonnets is also extensively carried on. 
Two floors of the large building 19 and 19^ Whitaker Street are occupied by Mr. 
Krouskoff as salesrooms and workrooms, and a large, increasing and lucrative trade 
has been attained. Twelve girls are employed in this enterprise, and two traveling 
salesmen are representing the^interests of the house throughout this part of the 
South, large orders being sent in from all the towns and villages in this section. 
The amount of stock averages from $25,000 to $30,000 in value, a larger supply of 
goods being required to supply the demands of the spring and fall seasons. Mr. 
Krouskoff is a native of Europe, has been a resident of Savannah for so many years 
that it is needless to dwell more fully upon his career in this community, his long 
residence here and well-known business qualities having gained him a reputation no 
words of ours could add to. Our readers at a distance, desiring to purchase or 
replenish their stock, cannot do better than to consult Mr. K. before placing their 
orders elsewhere. 

I. DASHER & CO.— Wholesale and Retail Dry Goods, 145 Broughton Street. 

The dry goods trade of late years has begun to compete with the grocery in 
magnitude ; and this result has been brought about by the enterprise and push of a 
few large firms in every center of trade. Savannah has contributed her full quota to 
this development, and may well be proud of the number and standing of her drj^ 
goods firms. The firm of I. Dasher and Co. is in all respects worthy to be called a 
representative one. Commenced in 1868 as Rogers, Dasher & Co., in 1872 it was 
changed to Rogers & Dasher, and in 1877 to present style, the Co. being Mr. F. W. 
Dasher, son of Mr. I. Dasher. Their establishment is 30x90ft. in dimensions, four 
floors in height, and contains a most complete and varied stock of dry goods of all 
descriptions ; velvets, laces, silks, fancy goods, and in fact everything which can 
please the most fastidious and particular purchaser. The stock carried amounts to 
upwards of $45,000 in value ; the annual sales reach $125,000, and are increasing 
rapidly. The trade embraces the city and surrounding country, and they employ ten 
efficient and polite clerks. Mr. I. Dasher, the senior member of the firm, is a native 
of Savannah, and has been in the business all his life, having been formerly con- 
nected with Lathrop &, Co. His long and varied experience, sound judgment, and 
eminent business qualities fit him to be the head of such a firm. Mr. F. W. Dasher 
is also a native of Savannah, born there in 1852. Like his father, he has had a 
thorough business education and ably seconds him in his business. This firm is one 
of the landmarks of Savannah, without which a histor}' of the business development 
of the city would be incomplete. 



TKADE, COMMERCE AND INDUSTRIES. 101 

J. J. REILY — Dealer in Coffees, Teas, etc., No. 139 Broughton Street. 

In recording the industries of Savannah and the progress made in the last decade 
in commercial and manufacturing importance, it would be impossible to omit mention 
of the enterprise of Mr. J. J. Reily. Succeeding A. J. Maloney in 1879, the trade 
and resources of this concern have more than kept pace with the genuine prosperity 
of the city. Conducted with every advantage to be derived from a stainless business 
policy, energetic and enterprising habits, managed with ability and judgment, the 
success of the house increased with each succeeding year, until at the present time it 
stands at the head of similar establishments in this section of the country. The 
premises occupied at No. 139 Broughton Street are ample and commodious, and con- 
tain a full line of coffees, teas, paper bags, wooden butter dishes, etc., in which he 
enjoys a flourishing local trade. Mr. Reily has had experience in this line of busi- 
ness, and is, therefore, a good judge of coffees and teas, and handles only pure and 
desirable qualities. He is a native of Savannah, and has gained the esteem and con- 
sideration of our citizens. Conducing in so great a degree to the substantial benefit 
of the community, and contributing so strongly to the reputation of the city, Mr. 
Reily is entitled to the high position he has attained in business circles. 

HENRY BLUN— >StocA;s, Bonds & Real Estate, 110 Bryan Street. 

The negotiations of loans, and speculation in stocks, bonds and real estate, is in all 
large cities a very important branch, and the stock brokers of Savannah are not 
inferior to any in their clear sightedness and business ability. Among those who 
occupy a prominent position in this line we notice Mr. Henry Blun, who in all the 
qualities which constitute a successful broker is notjsurpassed by any gentleman in 
Savannah. Mr. Blun has had an experience of many years in his business, and con- 
sequently is well fitted to transact every detail in the most thorough and successful 
manner. He is in constant communication with all the great business centres, and is 
therefore prompt to buy or sell as occasion demands. All business intrusted to him 
is faithfully carried out. He also attends to the sale of real estate, of which a large 
amount passes through his hands each year. 

HAYWOOD, CAGE & CO.— 0/ the ''Bay Ice Company,'' 188 to 194 Bay St. 

The old Bay Ice Company deserves a prominent place in a history of the develop- 
ment of the industries of Savannah, constituting as it does one of the most solid and 
reliable enterprises in the city. The company handles only the very best Northern 
ice, free from the impurities which so often ruin the inferior product, and kept care- 
fully stored away in their immense warehouses. It is a branch of the Boston House, 
which has also branches in Charleston, New Orleans, Galveston, Mobile and Bruns- 
wick. The storage capacity is ample, and the central and convenient location, as well 
as the high general reputation of the company, bring it a leading share of the ice 
trade of this place. They supply steamers, hotels and private dwellings, their large 
force of hands and wagons insuring prompt and safe delivery. The capital of the 
company is large, and they are prepared to sell by cargo, car load or package on the 
most reasonable terms ; in fact, we do not think there is any company in the State 
which can offer similar inducements to purchasers, nor does any in the United States 
possess a more firm and solid foundation for their business prosperity. All inquiries 
are cheerfully answered, and they have the esteem and confidence of their numerous 
customers. 



102 SAVANNAH HER 



PAVILION HOTEL— >S'o;'^/i Broad and Bull Streets, J. G. Penfield & Bro., 
Proprietors . 

The first outlook of the traveler on coming into a city is to find a good hotel, and 
there is nothing which adds more to the prestige of any place than the posses- 
sion of at least one of those places of public entertainment. In this respect Savannah 
has quite a number, and among the many houses which have given character to the 
city, none have contributed in a more marked degree to this end than the well-known 
and popular "Pavilion Hotel," located at the corner of South Broad and Bull Streets, 
convenient to the business center of the city and within easy distance of the railway 
depots. The building is a large brick of modern construction, is three stories in 
height and contains ail the improvements usually found in first class hotels, including 
the telephone. Messrs. Penfield Bros, succeeded W. H. Johnson in 1880, and the 
house has been entirely' renovated. There are accommodations for seventy-five 
guests, and the rooms are all well ventilated, handsomel}- furnished and strictl}' clean 
and comfortable. Fourteen employees are required to wait upon those who patronize 
this house. Families are specially provided for and entertained in first class style. 
Ladies and gentlemen, visiting Savannah, will find at this hotel the best of accommo- 
dations and a table unsurpassed by that of an}' other house in the country, being sup- 
plied with the choicest viands the market affords, and, what is equally as important, 
has one of the best and most experienced cooks, and polite waiters. No pains are 
spared to make the sojourn of guests pleasant, and the genial proprietors are well- 
known citizens, remarkable for their cordial and courteous manners and untiring 
efforts to sustain the reputation of the house. Messrs. Jas. G. and M. R. Penfield 
are the proprietors, natives of Bridgeport, Conn., and have been engaged in this 
business since residing in Savannah. These gentlemen have both been connected 
with the New York steamers for years and are widely and most favorably known in 
our city. Transient trade is solicited, and these gentlemen are thoroughly conversant 
with their business, polite and attentive. To the traveling pul)lic the editor of this 
work would state that no more comfortable hotel can be found within whose walls the 
ease and luxury of a home are furnished to a greater extent than at the Pavilion 
Hotel. The house is under the personal management of Mr. J. G. Penfield. 

E. J. KENNEDY— J/erc/icm^ Tailor, 41 Bull Street. 

The tailoring establishments of Savannah occupy a prominent position in the his- 
tory of her industries, and among these none have a more extended reputation for 
good and reliable work in all branches than the well-known store of Mr. E. J. Ken- 
nedy. Mr. Kennedy, during the fifteen j^ears of business in this line, has alwa^'s 
given satisfaction, and to-day has the reputation of being one of the best cutters and 
fitters in Savannah or the State. He carries a very full and varied stock of the best 
foreign and domestic goods, including English, French and German fabrics, from 
their most celebrated makers, and which stock is always kept up and replenished 
from time to time to keep up with the styles. In his establishment are always found 
the latest novelties and fashions of New York and Philadelphia, purchased by him 
directly and selected under his supervision. Ten to fifteen hands are constantly 
employed, all skillful workmen. Mr. Kennedy, though born in Europe, is by his 
residence here of thirty 3'ears entitled to rank as a Savannahian. No establishment 
is more deserving of patronage than this pne, and in none can more satisfactory work 
be obtained. 



TRADE, COiOIERCE AND INDUSTRIES. 103 

MEINHARD BROS. & CO.— Wliolesale Boots, Shoes and Clothing, 129 and 
131 Broughton Street; Xew York Office, 34 Thomas Street. 
Among the various enterprises whieli have contributed to the commercial pros- 
perity of this city as a distributive center, in the extent and importance of its opera- 
tions, should be mentioned the house of Meinhard Bros. & Co., wholesale dealers in 
the best grades of boots and shoes adapted to the requirements of the general trade. 
Comprehending the amplest facilities for procuring and controlling the products of 
the best and most reliable manufactured and custom made work, this house presents 
to the trade unsurpassed inducements, both in quality and variety of the stock carried. 
Dating its origin from 1867, by the consolidation of the firms H. & I. Meinhard and 
Weil & Meinhard, this firm early produced a favorable impression upon the market by 
the adoption of a wise business policy, which has been largely instrumental in securing 
a reliable and gradually growing trade. The premises occupied aonsist of two three- 
story buildings, with a frontage of 60 feet and depth of 90 feet, stocked with a full line 
of goods which are included in the wholesale boot and shoe trade, also of ready-made 
clothing. In this latter department unusual facilities are possessed, as the firm are 
engaged in the manufacture of clothing in New York, and are thus enabled to offer 
ready-made garments at most moderate prices. Clerks, salesmen and porters, num- 
bering twenty-one in all, are busily engaged in the various departments of the estab- 
lishment here, and all orders sent to this house are filled promptly and in a reliable 
manner. The immense stock in the several lines aggregates $175,000 in value, and the 
successful career of this enterprise is shown by the fact that the capital which 
approximated $50,000 at the start has been increased from year to year until now 
it is placed at $900,000. The trade supplied is large throughout the States of 
Georgia, Florida, South Carolina and part of Alabama, the transactions reaching 
$950,000 per annum. Messrs. Henry, Isaac and Samuel Meinhard and Elias A. 
Weil are the individual members of the firm, all natives of Bavaria, Germany, the two 
first named brothers residing in New York, the latter members of the firm in 
Savannah, where they are well known for enterprise and ability. Mr. Weil held the 
position of alderman in 1879-80, and is now a director in the Southern Bank of the 
State of Georgia. The transactions of this house are characterized by liberality, uni- 
form reliability and fair dealings ; and the prominent position they have obtained in the 
mercantile community, as the representative wholesale dealers in boots and shoes and 
ready-made clothing of the Forest City of the South, has been secured through their 
energy and individual efforts to supply to the trade the best articles at the lowest 
ruling rates. 

MRS. R. M. BENNETT — Dealer in Wigs, Curls, etc.,- Cor. Whitaker and Hxdl 
Streets. 
An enterprise especially pleasing to the ladies of Savannah is that of Mrs. R. M. 
Bennett. Thoroughly acquainted with the manufacture of hair goods in all its details, 
and by a long experience amply fitted to successfully superintend and carry on the 
present estalDlishment, she has a reputation not inferior to any in Savannah. She 
carries a handsome and well selected stock of the best goods in her line, all selected 
with a view to meet the wants of her numerous customers. All orders sent are faith- 
fully and promptly executed, in a manner not surpassed by any similar establishment. 
Mrs. Bennett is a lady of high standing, well liked and esteemed, and her establish- 
ment enjoys a deserved popularity. 



104 SAVANNAH HER 



M. STERNBERG — Diamonds, Watches, Clocks, Jeioelry, Solid Silver and 
Plated Ware, No. 24 Barnard Street. 

The prominence which has been given to the trade in articles of adornment for the 
l^erson as well as of elegant objects of virtu for household use and display in this city 
in the past few years is something remarkable. Any merchant or manufacturer who 
can produce something that will please the eye and at the same time render it of use 
to his fellow-citizens is a public benefactor. This is true in any branch of business, 
but more especially so in the jewelry business. Mr. Sternberg, the gentleman whose 
name heads this article, comes often under the head of a public benefactor. He has 
been the means of laying before our citizens and the surrounding section of country 
some of the most elegant works of art in clocks, silverware and jewelry that the eye 
has delightedly rested on, and he has met with corresponding reward. Mr, S. started 
his present enterprise in 1873 in a moderate way and has annually added to his 
business, his sales increasing each year, and he enjoys a fair share of patronage of the 
city and vicinity. Four assistants are employed, who give prompt and courteous 
attention to all who visit this establishment ; while the annual sales reach $60,000. 
His storeroom is forty feet front and admirably adapted to the display of goods in 
this line, of which he carries a full and carefully selected assortment, a specialty being 
made of diamonds, of which a complete line is kept in stock. Mr. Sternberg is a native 
of Europe and learned his trade there. His enterprise is located in the strictly 
business portion of the city, on Barnard Street, between Congress and Broughton 
Streets, and he gives his personal attention to the trade, special attention being given 
to the repair of watches and jewelry and executing all designs of engraving. Mr. 
Sternberg is justly entitled to his present success, it having been gained by a strict 
attention to business, an agreeable manner and a commercial honesty second to none 
in our midst. 

WM. D. DIXON— Undertaker and Funeral Director, No. 43 Bxdl Street. 

Who, that has read of the people who have lived and died before him, has not 
wondered at the tales of the old Egyptians, and their wonderful storehouses of the 
bodies[of their forefathers preserved for thousands of years, and then of the loss of the 
art by which it was effected, and of the many attempts and failures to regain it. In 
connection with this subject, the undertaking business of the present tine is of no 
little importance, and among the houses engaged in this branch of trade in Savannah 
that of Mr. Wm. D. Dixon is among the most prominent. This enterprise was 
established here in 1865, and he supplies goods in this line to our citizens and 
those living in the vicinity, who depend upon Savannah merchants for supplies of all 
kinds. Mr. Dixon has everything ready for at once answering calls, and keeps on 
hand a large stock of funeral paraphernalia of every grade, some embroidered by 
hand and of exquisite taste, and all kinds of artistic designs for the ornamentation of 
caskets, coffins and biers, and is provided with everj'thing requisite to perform in a 
satisfactory manner the last rites for the loved and lost. He has three assistants and 
his establishment is large and convenient. He is prepared to furnish hearses and 
funeral director when desired, and having had large experience in this department of 
trade is enabled to attend to his duties in a most satisfactory manner. Mr. Dixon 
was born in Savannah in 1840, is well and favorably known to all our citizens, 
and further comment at our hands is unnecessary. This is one of the most extensive 
and best arranged undertaking establishments in the city. 



JAS. S. SILVA 




TRADE, COMMERCE AND INDUSTRIES. 



105 



-Crockery, Glassware, Timvare, Cutlery , Lamps, 140 BrougUon St. 
Prominent among the many business liouses on this busy 
thoroughfare is the establishment of Jas. S. Silva, a fine brick 
structure, four stories high, each floor thirty by ninety feet, 
and packed with crockery from cellar to roof. Mr. 8ilva com- 
menced business in this city as junior member of the firm of 
Bolshaw & Silva in 1866 ; after a prosperous connection with 
this firm for seven years, he branched off on his own account, 
and by strict and prompt attention to the wants of the people 
made them his patrons, and with their assistance has succeeded 
in placing his business on the substantial basis it now occupies. 
Having accumulated ample capital, he is able to take advantage 
of the cash bargains so frequently offered, and consequently 
can afford to sell his goods at lower prices than most of his 
competitors. A visit to his establishment will convince any 
^one that the assertions in this article are not mere "buncombe" 
J; but solid facts, and after pricing his goods you will be further 
convinced that the place to buy crockery, glassware, tinware, 
cutlery, etc., is at Jas. S. Silva' s, 140 Broughton Street. To parties living out of the 
city he will be pleased to furnish prices on application by letter. 

WEED &CORIMWELL— /ZanZware, anf? Importers of Rio Coffee, 173 and 175 
Broughton Street. 

The best and surest test of the prosperity and onward course of a i:\tj is shown 
by the statistics of the annual business of her wholesale establishments, and more 
particularly by those who import any staple article of food or general use by the 
cargo. Savannah is probably, outside of New Orleans, the only city south of Rich- 
mond which imports by the cargo the great staple— coffee ; and in Savannah this 
branch is limited to two firms, of one of which, and probably the more important, 
our article treats. The firm of Weed & Cornwell dates far back into the beginning 
of the present century, and has witnessed the growth of the city from a compar- 
atively insignificant place to one of the leading cities, not onl}^ in the South, but in 
the United States, and by its staunch business principles and high and unblemished 
business reputation has materially aided and fostered that growth. Founded in 1816 
by N. B. and H. D. Weed, from its inception it took rank among the leading firms of 
the city, and has throughout an existence of sixty-six years, unharmed by war or 
financial panic, borne and maintg,ined a reputation without stain. The present mem- 
bers of the firms are Joseph D. Weed and George Cornwell, both gentlemen known 
and respected by the entire community, and who wear right worthily the mantle which 
has fallen on their shoulders bequeathed them b}^ their predecessors in the firm. 
They present the unusual spectacle of a large and important house engaging in two 
separate and entirely distinct lines of trade, and in each being pre-eminent. 
Their hardware establishment is one of the largest in Savannah in all respects ; and in 
coffee, as already stated, they occupy a unique position. * It is to such firms as these 
that the lesser lights of trade, in time of distress and panic, look for aid and advice ; 
and as they have never yet in the hour of trial been found wanting, we may be 
assured that they will continue to be, as they are now, one of the three or four 
representative houses in Savannah. 



106 SAVANNAH HER 



F. H. MEYER — Jeioeler, 126 Bronghton Street. 

Savannah has in every department of trade stores equal to any to be found else- 
where, and of no line is this more true than of the jewelry. Each store seems to vie 
with the other in the beauty and artistic display of their exhibits ; and among these 
the handsome store of Mr. F. H. Meyer holds a leading position, both for the elegance 
of the stock and the superior quality of the work done there. Mr. Meyer started in 
1881 with small capital, and by skillful management has increased until now his stock 
is no less than $8,000 in value, and his sales foot up $8,000 to $10,000. ]\Ir. Meyer is 
a jeweler by profession, having learned his trade in Germany, which is a guarantee of 
its being thorough. He was born there in 1854, but has for a number of years lived 
in Savannah, which he considers his home. His store, which is 22 by 50 in dimensions, 
is very handsomely arranged, and the stock, consisting of the finest watches, clocks, 
jewelry sets of all descriptions, is selected by himself from the very best makers, 
both home and foreign. His general stock of scarf-pins, studs, chains, etc., is of 
exceeding beauty and variety, some being of a design and finish not to be found 
elsewhere. He makes a specialty of Waltham watches, of which he has a large stock 
of the latest designs. He employs two capable assistants. Mr. Meyer has attained 
his present position in the face of great difficulties, which he has bravely overcome. 
His establishment, both in exterior and interior decoration, and judicious and careful 
arrangement of stock, will stand comparison with any in the city, and the business 
transacted is as safe and his customers as reliable and trustworthy as can be found in 
the city. We cheerfully recommend him to all of our readers who wish the best 
articles in his line, and which always are as guaranteed. 

A. EHRLICH — Wliolesale G-rocer and Liquor Dealer^ 157 Bay Street. 

The wholesale grocery trade, which is invariably the great interest by which the im- 
portance and prospective growth of a city are measured, has few better representa- 
tives of its wealth-commanding power in the South than Mr. Ambrose Ehrlich, now 
recognized as one of the largest and best wholesale grocery men in this section of the 
South. While wealth is one of the elements of success, it is a resultless factor with- 
out the combination of business sagacity, which acts as a regulator in the government 
of the force which capital impels. In the history of the rise, progress and develop- 
ment of this great grocery house, an illustration can be found of the part which 
ability plays in prosperity and the true subordination of capital to adaptability and 
enterprise. In writing the history of representative institutions it is generally by 
comparison ; but occasionally there is found a branch of business so far in advance of 
its particular trade that no comparison is possible, save to make it the standard, and 
speak relatively of the others. Such is the position occupied by Mr. A. Ehrlich, not 
only in Savannah, but in this and adjoining States. This large grocery house was 
started in 1877 by Messrs. Loeb «fc Ehrlich, and in 1883 Mr, Ehrlich became proprietor. 
The premises in which the business is conducted consist of the three-story brick 
building, 30 by 90 feet in size, situated at 157 Bay Street, and the stock kept on hand 
is immense, being of wonderful variety, including syrups, molasses, sugars, coffees, 
teas, tobacco, canned goods, nuts, crackers, candies, etc., a specialty being made of 
rice and liquors of every description, the average value being placed at $75,000. 
When the house was started in 1877, with small capital, the sales reached $15,000 
per annum, but by industry and close application to business the sales, at the present 
time, aggregate annually $350,000, a truly colossal showing. The trade is general 



TRADE, COIMERCE AND INDUSTRIES. 107 

throughout this State, South Carolina and Florida, and the assistance of eight em- 
ployees is required in the prosecution of the business. Mr. Ehrlich is a native of 
Macon, Georgia, but has resided here for nearly thirty years, having in that time laid 
the foundation and attained the success of his present enterprise. He has been en- 
gaged in the grocery trade for seventeen years and possesses a large experience 
in it, besides fully understanding the requirements of such an important business, 
in this part of the Union. The history of his house is interesting, and shows what 
can be achieved by the energy and business qualifications of one man, also to what 
extent a business can be pushed by enterprise and honorable dealing. Prompt, relia- 
ble and enterprising, he is deserving of the most flattering success, is fully competent 
to maintain the high reputation he has built up, and will always be found fully abreast 
of the times. Mr. Ehrlich has won a wide-spread reputation for honest and upright 
dealings with all his customers, and there are few business houses in this or any other 
city that can show such a successful business record. 

C. H. DORSETT — Auctionetr and Commission Merchant, 156 Bay. 

The auction and commission business of Savannah forms a very important item in 
the list of her industries, and prominent among the houses in this line we notice the 
well-known enterprise of Mr. C. H. Dorsett. Mr. Dorsett does a general commission 
business in consignments of goods or products. His knowledge of all the markets, 
and of the business generally, eminently fits him for the high position he occupies 
in the business community. Mr. Dorsett disposes, at public or private auction, of 
all goods, chattels, furniture, etc., always realizing the most advantageous terms for 
his patrons, who testify their confidence in his judgment and business ability by the 
large and increasing patronage he receives from them. All his dealings are based on 
high and unswerving principles ; and such is his general reputation, that to have anj'' 
property, real or personal, in his hands is a guarantee of its being advantageously 
disposed of. We cheerfully recommend him to our readers who may wish business 
in his line. 

LEE ROY MYERS— F/io^esaZe Tobacco and Cigars, No. 133 Bay Street. 

The present age is a progressive one, with competition in all lines of business so 
energetic as to call into active exertion the best business talent, unceasing perse- 
verance and indomitable energy in order to succeed. There are a great many houses 
in this city which without any ostentation or striving for prominence yet transact a 
business of unusual magnitude and employ a large capital. Among those houses 
that have been greatly instrumental in promoting the interests of the tobacco trade 
in Savannah the establishment of Mr. Lee Roy Myers stands prominent. This 
enterprise was founded in 1873, under the firm name Goodman & Myers, the present 
proprietor assuming control in 1880, since which time the business has been enlarged 
each year and the scope of its operations extended. At No. 133 Bay street, a 
building well adapted to the business in which he is engaged is occupied by Mr. 
Myers. It is 30x90 feet in dimension, and the four floors are fully stocked with a 
complete assortment of various brands and makes of tobacco and cigars. Their 
supplies have a very wide reputation for superiority, and great care is exercised in 
the selection of the best tobacco and cigars manufactured. Eleven employees are 
required in handling the large amount of goods required for the trade of this well- 
known house, which extends throughout Virginia, North and South Carolinas, 



108 



SAVANNAH HER 



Georgia, Florida, Alabama and Mississippi, the sales aggregating $500,000 in value 
during the year 1883. This is one of the largest establishments in this line of trade 
in this part of the Southern country, and the facilities for supplying an extended 
trade are unsurpassed. Mr. Myers was born in Virginia in 1852, but has resided in 
Savannah since 1869, and having been engaged in this deptrtment of trade all his 
business life, is a good judge of tobacco in the several forms in which it is used. 
He is numbered among our best known and most influential citizens and is a director 
in the Southern Mutual Loan Association. In every respect this enterprise is worthv 
of commendation ; relial)le in all transactions, it is the determination of its proprietor 
to offer the best goods in the market, at the most reasonable prices, an effort which 
has been crowned and rewarded with solid and permanent success. 

HOLST & CO. — Ship Brokers and Commission, No. 136 Bay Street. 

New Orleans excepted, more vessels enter Savannah than any other city in the 
South, and the importance of reliable and energetic brokers, to whom to intrust the 
interests of vessels coming here, will be at once recognized. Undoubtedly the most 
prominent ship brokers in Savannah are Hoist & Co. ; and the skill with which they 
manage the vessels intrusted them is evidenced by the fact that they have about 
seventy vessels consigned to them each year — one season as raanj' as ninet3'-six — 
and among them are included vessels of all nationalities, though principally Norwe- 
gian, Swedish and Danish. The proper care of such a number of vessels requires 
eminent business tact and ability, and these Mr. Hoist possesses in an eminent degree. 
Born in Denmark, he has resided in Savannah for thirt3'--four years, being all that 
tiine intimately connected with the city and her interests ; and to-day no man stands 
higher in qxqvj respect, or is more universally esteemed in and out of business cir- 
cles, than he. He is vice-consul for Sweden and Norway, which offices he has filled 
for the last nineteen years. Besides this, he is a member of the Cotton Exchange 
and the Board of Trade. He also successfully conducts a large commission business. 
His success in both branches is the result of his own energy and untiring industry. 
Ship-owners and captains, both native and foreign, will find it to their interest to 
consign their vessels to Mr. Hoist, as in his hands tiieir interests will be well cared for. 



A. S. NICHOLS— -STote and Shoes, 128 Broaghton Street. 

It is a momentous period in the life of any young man when, throwing off all 
doubts and fears, and heedless of the evil forebodings of those who think they know 
better than himself, he determines to strike out alone and unaided in a bold search 
after fortune and success ; and such a step should onlj'^ be taken after due deliber- 
ation, and with the resolve not to be turned from his original intention by trifles or 
even calamities. AVith the advantages of youth, a good name, and energy, to such a 
man there is no such word as fail, and the history of every city and town presents 
examples of those who, thus starting, have achieved success in the face of what 
seemed insurmountable obstacles. Savannah is not behind her sister cities in this 
respect, and as example we can offer none more striking and suggestive than the 
business career of Mr. A. S. Nichols. Starting in 1S75 with only S300 capital, he 
has in eight years built up a trade and reputation second to none in Savannah. His 
store is 20x75 ft. in dimensions, and the stock carried amounts to S16,000, and the 
annual sales foot up $45,000 — an enormous increase in the capital with which he 
commenced, his present capital being S1(!,000. His trade extends throughout South 



TRADE, COMMERCE AND INDUSTRIES. 



109 



Carolina, Georgia and Florida, including Savannah and vicinity. His stock embraces 
boots and shoes and hats from all the best known manufacturers. He has in his shoe 
department shoes from the house of Hanan & Son, of New York ; Zeigler Bros. & Kelly ; 
Moore & Evan, of Phila. ; Curtis & Wheeler, of Rochester, and others, all of 
world-wide reputation. Hs also sells the celebrated "Button's Raven Gloss," a 
preparation of inestimable value to those who wish a dressing for shoes which will not 
crack the leather. His success is a matter of pride to himself and his friends, who 
by their large and increasing patronage evince their appreciation of his reliability 
and enterprise. 

BENDHE8M BROS. & CO. — Manufacturers and Importers of Cigars, Pipes and 

Smokers'' Articles, and Jobbers in Tobaccos, No. 148 Bay Street. 

Savannah, in statistical comparison, both with sister Southern cities and her own 
commercial condition of a quarter of a century ago, presents striking evidence 
-^^till^E. IVf^/l^^ ^^ individual enterprise. Not only have her merchants built 
'^^^j y^^^^<Z^ j^T ^^1"* splendid establishments, extending her trade to every sec- 
""" ' "" ^ ► tion of the State, but, with keen foresight and conception, 
penetrated other States, gaining and holding that geographi- 
cally tributary to other cities, bringing their city prominently 
forward as an important distributing centre. This is more 
distinctly pronounced in those branches connected with the 
tabacco business in its various departments than in any other. 
A comparison with other branches shows five large and flour- 
ishing establishments in that line — we mean jobbers — which, 
in the generally observed ratio, is more than an average. 
Besides, other branches, notably grocers, handle tobaccos, to 
The tobacco business in this country must, from its magnitude, 
be always regarded as an interest of the utmost importance. Millions of capital are 
invested in it, thousands of operatives are afforded employment by it, and the taxes 
paid to the government by the manufacturers of and dealers in it compose a large por- 
tion of the national revenue. Among those houses that have been largely instru- 
mental in promoting the interests of this branch of trade, and who are known wher- 
ever in this country tobacco is dealt in and imported cigars are used, Bendheim 
Bros. & Co. rank prominently in the trade. Louisville, Ky. , has the Finzer Bros. ; 
New York, the Lorillards ; Savannah, the Bendheims. In the summer of 1869 they 
established themselves, the firm title being Bwhm, Bendheim & Co. They soon took 
position as an enterprising, energetic addition to the city. Beginning originally in a 
moderate way, contending with difficulties incident to new enterprises, they gradu- 
ally augmented the resources of their house, extended their operations, and eventu- 
ally acquired a position in the community attained by but few. Men of comprehen- 
sive Aaews, large capacity and intelligent appreciation of their business, they very 
soon succeeded in taking a prominent rank among the business men of this section. 
In 1879, by the retirement of Mr. Boehm and the admission of Messrs. Meier and 
1 Henry Bendheim, the firm style was changed to Bendheim Bros. & Co. The partners 
are Adolph D., Meier and Henry Bendheim and L. Kaufmann, of New York. Their 
manufactory is in New York City, where they have extensive works and employ a 
large number of hands. In addition, they are large importers of cigars, in which 
they have a very large trade, extending all over the United States. They are the 




more or less extent. 



110 SAVANNAH HER 



sole agents for goods of Lorillarcl's manufacture for Savannah and Florida. Their 
trade in domestic cigars and tobacco and smokers' articles extends through Georgia, 
South Carolina, North Carolina, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi and South Tennessee. 
Of late their trade has increased in such a manner, and especially extended in a 
northern direction, that they, with the foresight they always exhibited, found it expe- 
dient, in order to accommodate their customers and increase their own facilities, to 
open a house further North, in a city offering all the necessary geographical advan- 
tages in the way of transportation, etc. For this purpose they have selected the city 
of Baltimore, Md., where they will estal)lish themselves in time to open for the fall 
season. The style of firm will be Bendheim Bros. & Co., composed of the same 
members as the Savannah house. They will be located there in the most prominent 
part of the city, 244 West Baltimore Street. The stock carried is commensurate with 
their large business, averaging §75,000 in value. Their transactions will reach over 
S500,000 annually. Fourteen hands are emplo^^ed in the various capacities. Their 
business premises are among the most commodious and convenient in the city, 
consisting of a large brick building, with a frontage of 30 feet on Ba}' Street 
by a depth of 90 feet, four stories in height, including a finished cellar. 
This is one of the largest tobacco houses in the South, and they are the only 
importers in the State. Mr. Bendheim is a member of the Board of Trade. The 
Messrs. Bendheim are natives of Darmstadt, Germany, residents of Savannah for 
from five to fifteen years. Their experience in their business is measured by the period 
of their business lives. As an evidence of their enterprise and liberal policy, they 
handle consignments of hides, wax and wool, from patrons, free of commission. 
Those having relations with this house ma}'- depend upon receiving all the advantages 
to be derived from long experience, large facilities and undoubted reliability. 

WELD & HARTSHORN E — Commission and Cotton Merchants, General Agents 
for the Boicker Fertilizer Company, Dealers in Kainit, Dissolved Bone Phosphate, etc., No. 7S 
Bay Street. 

Of late years the amount of fertilizers used in the United States and Europe has 
increased so rapidly that it is now closely pushing other interests which formerly 
far overshadowed it. Manufactories have been established all pver the South and 
North, and the amount of capital invested runs up into the millions. Savannah has 
not been behind in being represented in this industry, and some of the largest dealers 
in fertilizers are found among her business men. Among these, and occupying a 
leading position, is the well-known firm of "NVeld & Hartshorne. Founded in 1881 by 
Mr. J. D. Weld, the present firm was formed in November of the same year bj' the 
admission of Mr. L. Hartshorne, and has continued to advance, until now it stands 
on an equal footing with any in the country, considering its duration. The unceasing 
energy and push of both of the partners have widely extended the sales of their 
commodity, which now aggregate $250,000 to §300,000 per annum, distributed 
through the States of Florida, Georgia, Alabama and South Carolina, in which 
sections it has found universal favor, in many instances supplanting older and better 
known brands. This gratifying result is due to the excellent quality of the fer- 
tilizers sold bj' the firm, and also to their general reputation for fair and upright 
dealing with their customers. Their specialties are — Dissolved Bone Phosphate, 
Kainit (guaranteed the best on the market), Cotton Seed Oil, and other articles of 
minor importance, but which all go to swell the sum total of their large and in- 



TRADE, COMMERCE AND INDUSTRIES. 11 L 

creasing business. Tliey are also agents for the " Bowker Fertilizer Company," 
whose manufactories in New York and Boston are among the largest and most im- 
portant in the world. Besides their fertilizers, these gentlemen do a large commission 
business, receiving consignments from all parts of the South ; and by their liberal 
terms, and the favorable inducements they offer, they attract a class of customers 
whose influence brings others no less desirable. It is to such firms as this that the 
main prosperity of a city is due ; and when we consider the solid and substantial 
foundation of capital and energy on which their business is founded, we may well 
conclude that there are no bounds to their future advancement. 

DARNALL & SUSONC — Dealers in Mules and Horses, West Broad Street, 
Head of President. 
In making a detailed review of the commercial interests of this city, prominent 
among these will be noticed the Kentucky Sale Stables of Messrs. Darnall & Susong, 
which, from the special character of its business and the magnitude of its operations, 
should not escape mention in any work relating to the development, resources and 
industries of this city. This establishment was started in 1872, and is located on 
West Broad Street, at the head of President, where they occupy large and commo- 
dious quarters, and 150 horses and mules can be accommodated at one time. The 
stables are divided into several departments, made necessary by the various kinds of 
stock always kept on hand. From four to six employees are required in the care of 
stock, and farmers in this section, as well as citizens of Savannah, are supplied with 
mules or horses as desired. Mr. Darnall was born in Fleming Co., Ky., Mr. Susong 
in Green Co., Tenn., and they possess a thorough appreciation of the wants and 
demands of the public, which fact has enabled them to so adjust prices and conduct 
their business as to draw, in this line, an exceedingly large patronage. The rapid 
rise and success of this establishment is a remarkable one, and speaks well for the 
enterprise and probity of the firm. Any style of horse or mule desired may be found 
here at all times, and Messrs. Darnall & Susong are men of experience and good 
judges of animals. They occupy a prominent position among the successful business 
men of the " Forest City of the South." 

McMillan BROS. — southern copper works, 32 Liberty street, corner Price. 
This well-known establishment was started in 1880, and now ranks among the 
most progressive manufacturing houses of Savannah. The Messrs. McMillan started 
with but small capital, but an abundance of energy, pluck, and, above all, a thorough 
training in their profession, and have slowly but surely worked their way up, until 
to-day they rank as one of the best establishments, not only in Savannah but in the 
South. They have put up a new two-story building, 80 ft. deep, and they have large 
grounds. They are equipped with every convenience for carrying on the large and 
increasing business. The firm make a specialty of turpentine stills, in which they 
have made many and valuable improvements. They also do all kinds of work in 
copper, and such is their reputation that their trade already extends through Florida, 
Alabama and the Carolinas. The members of the firm are Messrs. D. G. , R. and 
T. H. McMillan, all experienced and practical workmen. They have an experience 
of twenty years in their profession, and are consequently eminently fitted to carry on 
their trade. They are all gentlemen of high character and standing, and are prompt 
and reliable in all respects. Ten to fifteen skillful workmen are employed, at good 
wages. 



112 



SAVANNAH — HER 




WM. W. CNANN — Wheehvright, Blacksmith and Horseshoer, 6 and S New 

Street, near West Broad. 

Mr. Gnann has undoubtedly one of the largest and best establishments of the kind 
in Savannah, and his present handsome business is the result of his own energy and 
perseverance. He builds wagons, buggies, carts, drag's, in fact every species of 

vehicle in the most substantial manner, and 
equal to any made at the North, and also 
does a general jobbing business in all its 
branches, having acquired in this line a rep- 
utation second to none in Savannah. Horse- 
shoeing is also carried bj' a practical shoer, 
who understands the nature of the hoof, as 
well as the acquired knowledge of fitting on 
the shoe. Mr. Gnann is a native of Ger- 
many, but has been in Savannah manj^ j^ears, 
and being a practical mechanic is well fitted to pursue his present line. His work is 
well-known as equal to any, and his general reputation as an honest and reliable man 
has also aided in bringing him a large and constantly increasing business. He keeps 
on hand a large stock of tough and seasoned timber, which he uses in his business. 
He is prompt in finishing work, efficient, and is generally liked and popular. All 
work performed by him is guaranteed, and is invariably up to standard. , 

J. P. WILLIAMS— JVai'oZ Stores and Cotton, 122 Bay Street. 

The very great prominence which Savannah commission merchants have gained for 
faithfulness to the interests of their patrons, has had the effect of bringing onl}' men 
of the most unflinching integrity' and business capacity to engage in that line of 
trade. It is a well-established fact that not onlj^ do this class of merchants make 
Savannah a splendid market, but it also proves that their past commercial lives are 
the means through which they obtain and hold their already splendid business. Of 
this class just mentioned the firm of J. P. Williams is an example. Started in 1879, 
as Williams & Watson, in 1882 it was J. P. Williams & Co., and in 1884 the present 
style. That he has well sustained the credit of the former firm is proved by his 
receipts of the past year, constituting him the second largest dealer in naval stores 
in Savannah. He employs four capable hands. The consignments come from all 
parts of Georgia and South Carolina, in which sections he has the respect and confi- 
dence of his numerous customers. Mr. Williams is a native of North Carolina, but 
has been in Savannah for the past four years. He is a director of the Board of 
Trade and member of the Cotton Exchange. Having devoted his entire business 
career to the cotton and naval stores branch, he is peculiarly fitted to conduct his 
present large and increasing business. His extensive foreign connections, ample 
capital, and thorough knowledge of the markets of his two specialties, enable him 
to offer inducements to consignors which few others can. His facilities in all respects 
are unsurpassed, and quick and profitable sales, accruing both to the advantage of 
himself and his consignors, is his motto, and which he has successfully carried out, 
yet at the same time he is prudent and cautious. In his hands the interests of his 
customers are as carefully guarded' and promoted as possible ; and planters and 
naval stores men from the interior, who may be on the look out for a reliable and 
capable consignee, can find none better than he. 



TRADE, C050IERCE AND INDUSTRIES. 113 

A. M. & C. W, WEST — Wholesale and Retail Grocers^ Corner Liberty and 
Whitakev Streets. 

The grocery trade, in all towns and cities, has its representatives, who, both on 
account of the superior class of goods they sell and the general reputation of the 
firm for straightforward dealing, are generally acknowleged to be the leaders. In 
Savannah such a position is occupied by the old and long established house of A. M. 
& C. W. West. Founded in 1868, with a very moderate capital, and when the city 
was absolutely poverty-stricken by the effects of the war, this house has steadily 
arisen to the position it now occupies. The store is 20x90 feet in area, two stories, 
with elevator and all other modern appliances for dispatch and quickness, the neces- 
sity for which is very evident when we see the steady stream of trade which is con- 
stantly coming in, and which keeps the proprietors and their five assistants always on 
the go. The stock carried averages $4,000 to $5,000, and the annual sales amount 
to over $50,000. The special pride of the firm, however, is in the superior class of 
goods sold, and which, in some brands, cannot be found elsewhere in the city. Their 
stock embraces the finest teas, coffees, sugars, butter, domestic and imported cheese, 
flour, lard, hams, spices, biscuits, cake and crackers (of which they carry the best 
line in the city), chocolate, honey, canned goods of all descriptions and brands, 
wooden ware, and, in fact, everything comprised in an establishment which has the 
reputation of this one. They make a specialty of fine imported fancy groceries, such 
as French peas, olives, mushrooms, preserves, pickles, in fact everything for which 
there is a demand. Both members of the firm are natives of New York, but have 
lived in Savannah since 1858, and have thoroughly identified themselves with the city 
and its welfare. They are of high standing in every respect, staunch and reliable 
business men, and the fact of an article being bought from them is a guarantee of 
its purity. It is by such firms as these that the commercial standing of a city is 
enhanced and strengthened, and those who need an example in business can find 
none more fit to follow than this well-known and respected firm. 

A, J. MILLER & CO. — Wholesale and Betail Furniture, Carpets, and Manu- 
factxirers Parlor goods and Bedding, 148 to 152 Brotighton Street. 

Broughton Street, which is unquestionably the business portion of Savannah, can 
boast of many and splendid stores, both wholesale and retail, devoted to all branches, 
and her furniture and carpet establishments can vie with any in the South in size and 
amount of trade transacted ; but beyond doubt or cavil the largest in this line is the 
immense wholesale and retail establishment of A. J. Miller & Co. , which occupies the 
stores from 148 to 152. In all, it comprises nine floors, each 30x90 ft. in dimensions, 
and three attics ; and the stock carried averages $50,000, while the annual sales 
amount to $108,000 and are increasing. Twenty-five capable and efficient hands are 
employed. There is also a Branch House in Atlanta, which from its inception has 
taken a leading place in the trade. The stock is too varied and extensive for a full 
enumeration in our limited space. All the latest and most improved styles of bed- 
room and parlor furniture from the best makers are kept on hand, ranging from the 
costliest and most elaborate to the plainest and most unpretending ; and in looking at 
the finest, one can scarcely believe that such marvels of beaut}- and finish could be 
sold at such reasonable prices. The carpet department is also very complete, the 
best home and foreign makers being represented. Some of the designs are 
wonderfully beautiful, and all display taste and conscientious workmanship. The 



114 SAVANNAH HE R 



history of this well-known house from its foundation is practically that of Savannah. 
Success has crowned the efforts of the proprietor, and he has achieved what few men 
have ever done, built up one fortune on the ruins of another. This result can 
only be achieved by indomitable energy, prudence, and unswerving integrity, and 
the success which has come to him \9 an eloquent lesson to all who may falter in the 
work of life. The house is universally esteemed by the business community, and by 
its numerous customers, who are found in South Carolina, Georgia and Florida. A 
visit to their establishment, even if not with the intention of purchasing, will be a 
source of pleasure both to the visitor and to the proprietor, who is always pleased to 
display his goods for inspection. 

F. M. FARLEY — Cotton Factor and Bice Dealer, No. 95 Bay Street. 

The favorable facilities which Savannah enjoys as a distributing center of cotton 
and rice, the principal products of the South, by means of her natural as well as 
acquired advantages for transportation and inter-communication, aided by the enter- 
prise and ability of her representative merchants and commission houses operating in 
this special branch of commerce, has given to the city a wide celebrity. Among the 
leading houses whose extensive operations have been largely instrumental in develop- 
ing the growth of her commerce in this direction, none are worthy of more favorable 
consideration than that of F. M. Farley, whose office is located at No. 94 Bay Street. 
Mr. Farley engaged in this business here in 1870, and has since that date monopolized 
a fair share of the trade in cotton, and more recently in rice, conducting now one of 
the largest enterprises in these lines in Savannah. The operations of this house have 
alwa3^s been characterized by that integrity and liberal policy which have given it the 
highest standing among its contemporaries, and in business circles. From 25,000 to 
35,000 bales of cotton are handled annually by Mr. Farley, and the assistance of seven 
experienced employees is required to carry on the business. Consignments are 
received from South Carolina, Georgia, Florida and Alabama, and cotton and rice 
are both handled by this well-known house. Mr. Farley is from Florida, but has 
lived here since 1869, and has been engaged in his present business continuously since 
1870, thus being enabled to combine experience with capital in the prosecution of the 
line of trade in which he is engaged. He is a member of the Cotton Exchange and is 
ranked among the leading commercial operators, whose enterprise has given to the 
city the prominence she enjoys as a commercial and distributive center. 

HENRY MILLER — Dealer in Groceries, Provisions, Fruits, Wi)ies, Liquors,. 
Importer of Foreign Fancy Groceries, No. 21 Barnard Street. 

E^very business venture that evinces in its conduction genuine enterprise and 
energy is entitled to due consideration in a work of this character. A well located, 
well arranged family grocery is of especial interest to housekeepers, inspiring them 
as it does with confidence that they will be furnished with choice, fresh articles for 
family consumption. The establishment of Mr. Henry Miller is pre-eminently one 
of this class. Although only started recently, the proprietor of this house being a 
live and energetic man, thoroughly acquainted with the business and its requirements, 
has alread}' obtained a good-paying and growing business. Located at No. 21 Bar- 
nard Street, in the best part of the city, his customers are of the best class of citizens. 
This business is carried on with untiring diligence and excellent management ; a full 
line of groceries (staple and fancy), provisions and liquors is constantly kept on 



TRADE, COaOIERCE AND INDUSTRIES. 115 

hand, the stock being frequently replenished, thus insuring fresh and desirable goods 
at all times, and the trade is quite large in the city, with orders from the country in 
wholesale quantities. Six assistants are engaged in attending to the numerous orders 
and large number of customers, and goods are delivered to any part of the city. 
The stock is always of the best quality to be found in this market, the prices as 
reasonable as any first-class grocery in the city, and Mr. Miller is prepared to fill any 
order from city or country. Mr. Miller is a native of Europe, but he has resided in 
Savannah for the past four years, and having a life-long experience in the business 
is enabled to satisfactorily meet the wants of all who visit his establishment, which 
compares most favorably with similar concerns in the city. He is well known as a 
business man, enjoj^s a high reputation as a straight-forward, honorable dealer, and 
to this fact is due the flourishing trade he has attained. 

T. P. BOND — Commission Merchant, Wholesale Dealer in Meat, Hay, Grain, 
Bice, Country Produce^ Foreign Fruits, Florida Oranges, Apples, Vegetables, 153 and 
155 Bay Street. 

Measuring the relative importance of a branch of business by its influence and 
results, give^ the most correct standard — articles entering into the food supply, by the 
logical laws of trade take precedence. Staples, or articles of necessity, control the 
markets of the world, others occupy merely the position of auxiliaries. In this con- 
nection are included articles formerly classed as luxuries, wliich have come into such 
general use as to be now considered indispensable. In all cities this branch of trade 
occupies a leading position, as its influence extends to all classes of society. The most 
prominent house engaged in the business in Savannah is that of T. P. Bond, estab- 
lished in 1867 by Bond &. Schlaj% with but limited capital. In 1869 Mr. Schlay 
retired and Mr. T. P. Bond became proprietor of the business. Pursuing his business 
with enterprise and industry, Mr. Bond has built up an extensive trade, radiating 
through Georgia, South Carolina and Florida. He is the largest dealer in this section 
in Western grain and hay, vegetables and fruits, supplying the main portion of the 
demand from the territory tributary to Savannah. Mr. Bond is a director of the 
Board of Trade, and a representative of the new era of progress and go-aheadativeness 
in the South, and especially of Georgia, which has Igiven her the title of the Empire 
State of the South. He brings to his business that nervj'' vim which made metropol- 
itan trade centers spring up like magic from prairie wastes in the West, and which 
will yet make the South proportionately as progressive and prosperous. State pride 
and public enterprise, characteristics of the present generation of business men in 
Savannah, with a just share of favorable seasons, will win her a place rivalling in 
commercial importance the phenomenal cities of the Northwest. To this class Mr. 
Bond belongs, and his individual success in business is but indicative of the future of 
this cit3\ His transactions are mainly in hay, grain, fruit and vegetable produce. He 
carries an average stock of some $20,000 in value, his annual transactions varying 
from 8300,000 to $350,000. He employs fifteen assistants, including clerks, porters 
and draymen. His business premises are commodious, conveniently arranged and 
specially adapted to his purposes, with a frontage of 64 feet on Bay b}'^ a depth of 90 
feet, three-stories in height, giving 17,280 square feet of floor surface utilized in the 
prosecution of his business, Mr. Bond is a native of Bryan County, Georgia, a resi- 
dent of Savannah for the past 37 years, and thoroughly identified with her interests 
and prosperity. 



116 SAVANNAH BHER 



D> J« RYAN — Art Gallery , Fhiesf Photographs and Stereoscopic Vie/rs. 139^ 
C'omjretis Street. 
The art of photography has within the past twenty j'^ears made wonderful advances 
in all its branches, so much so, that the photographer of 1800 would be astonished to 
see work executed with a precision and fidelity compared to which his best efforts 
were indeed a poor comparison. Savannah has photographic establishments which in 
workmanship and other details will compare favorably with the best Northern work, 
and among these the well-known art gallery of Mr. D. J. Ryan stands pre-eminent. 
Founded in 18(36, it has from its inception had an uninterrupted career of prosperity-, 
and to-day its trade extends over the States of North Carolina, South Carolina, 
Georgia, Florida, Alabama and Mississippi, in all of which the work and stock of Mr. 
Ryan bear a high reputation, and are also well-known elsewhere. The premises in- 
clude an area of 10x90 feet, three floors, and contain a very complete stock of every- 
thing pertaining to the photographic art. Among these we notice his celebrated 
stereoscopic views of Southern scenery, which are well-known all over the I'nited 
States. Mr. Ryan is a native of Ireland, born there in 183G, and has resided in 
Savannah for the past eighteen years. He commenced the study of his profession in 
1859, and is therefore as competent as a long and careful study and practice can 
make him. He stands well in all respects, is energetic and capable, and has built up 
a business and reputation of which any one might be proud. 

S. P. HAMILTON— J"e?oe?er, 125 Broughton Street. 

The art of tiie jeweler and worker in gold, silver and precious stones, dates back as 
far as the records of the human race. Ornaments found in Egyptian and Etruscan 
tombs, as well as in the buried cities of Assyria, and the wonderful relies exhumed by 
Layard, George Smith and Di Cesnola, are designed and executed with a skill which 
in many instances is the despair of modern artisans. Besides the high perfection of 
the art, they prove that the ancients possessed the precious metals in an abundance 
which to us, even with the gold mines of California and Australia at our own con- 
trol, seems incredible. Coming down to a later period we find the goldsmith's craft 
flourishing even in the middle ages, when other branches of industry were so nearly 
forgotten ; and the work of the mediivval goldsmiths forms the most precious portion 
of many museums both in America and Europe. Within the past few years a 
revival has taken place in the jewelry trade, which has already revolutionized it com- 
pletely. Simultaneously with the demand for antique furniture came that for antique 
jewelry, and old and forgotten family heirlooms were l)rought to light to serve as 
models. For once the public taste and opinion, generally faulty, has proved correct, 
and it is now understood and admitted that in this respect at least we have much to 
learn from our forefathers. Every city can boast one or more extensive jewelry 
establishments, but there is generallj^ one which is confessedly ''.su/ generis.'" New 
York has the world-renowned Tiffany's; Philadelphia, Bailey's; and other cities 
establishments less renowned. In Savannah umpiestionably the highest rank is occu- 
pied by the splendid store of Mr. S. P. Hamilton, who is a native of Virginia, and came 
to Savannah in 1805, in which year he commenced business; his profession, which he has 
followed all his life, was learned in AVashington, D. C. His store, which is 30x90 feet 
in dimensions, contains a very complpte stock of jewelry, valued at S40,000, while the 
annual sales foot up a very large amount. Six elKcient and capable hands are 
employed. The stock, which is very varied, comprises watches from the most cele- 



TRADE, COIVIMERCE AND ENDUSTRIES. 117 

brated makers, native and foreign, cloclis, silverware, bronzes, placques, statuettes, 
and in fact everything that can be enumerated in the list of a first-class establish- 
ment. The trade, which is by far the largest in the city, is confined thereto entirely. 
The store is illuminated by the electric light, and at night presents a most beautiful 
appearance. Mr. Hamilton is in every respect one of the most prominent and 
energetic citizens of Savannah, and enjoys the esteem and confidence of all classes. 
He is president of the Electric Light Company, and is interested in every enterprise 
which may redound to the benefit of Savannah. Visitors to his establishment are 
cordially welcomed and shown around, even though they have no intention of 
purchasing. 

CHAS. D. RUSSELL— Insjyector of Naval Stores; Office, S, F. & W. R'y N. S. 
Yard. 
In a descriptive revision of the trades and industries of Savannah, it is highly per- 
tinent that all those vocations contingent upon any staple line of commercial enter- 
prise should be noted and mentioned in this work, as having no little to do with the 
general facilities and advantages for the prosecution of business in this city. In 
such a connection we may not overlook the fact that Mr. Chas. D. Russell, as inspector 
of naval stores, occupies a position as useful as it is unique, and, pursuing a profession 
of importance to the industrial community, should receive some consideration here. 
At the Savannah, Florida and Western railway yards ample grounds are occupied by 
Mr. Russell for the prosecution of his business, and sixty-five employees are required 
in handling the stores coming under his inspection, Mr. Russell was born in Wil- 
mington, N. C, came to this city in 1877, and in the same year was elected inspector 
by the city, is under bond, and it is estimated that 250,000 barrels of rosin are 
inspected by him, on an average, each year. Any commendation of this gentleman 
at our hands is unnecessary, as he is well and most favorably known by our citizens 
and those in any way connected with the manufacture or handling of naval stores, 
and his long-continuous cccupation of this office is sufficient assurance of a pro- 
ficiency in the complete knowledge of his profession. 

B. F. McKENNA & CO.— General Dry Goods, 137 Broughton Street. 

There are in all communities certain houses which by virtue of long standing, high 
reputation, and general character are tacitly accorded precedence above others in the 
same. Of such a class is the old and long established house of B. F. McKenna & 
Co. This house throughout an existence of many years has always kept in the front 
rank in all respects, and to-day can proudly point to a record unsurpassed by that of 
any firm in Savannah or elsewhere. The establishment on Broughton Street contains 
an immense and well selected stock of dry goods, silks, velvets, and in fact every- 
thing to be found in a first-class establishment. The stock carried is valued at 
$25,000 (twenty-five thousand dollars), and the annual sales amount to not less than 
$80,000. Mr. B. F. McKenna, the senior member of the firm, is a native of New 
York, and was for some time with the great firm of Lord & Taylor. He is probably 
the oldest merchant in this line in Savannah, and from his energy and activity will 
probably continue to be so for many years. Mr. J. F. Crohan, the junior member, is 
a native of Ireland. Both gentlemen are well-known and respected by all. Their 
establishment is one of the landmarks of the city, and worthily upholds the reputa- 
tion of the business to which the talent and ability of these gentlemen are directed. 



118 



SAVANNAH HER 




LIPPMAN BROS- — Importers and Jobbers Drugs^ Medicines^ Notions and Glass- 
icare, Lippman^ s Block, Corner Congress and Barnard Streets. 

The drug stores of Savannah, in completeness of equipment and general outfit, will 
bear comparison with any in the United States ; and among the most reliable, and those 
who have the highest reputation for ^ellins: the purest and best drugs and chemicals, 

domestic and foreign, the firm of 
Lippman Bros, undoubtedly holds 
the front rank. Established 18 
years ago, it has steadily risen to 
its present position, always re- 
liable and trustworthy, and gain- 
ing and retaining the confidence 
of its patrons. Their establish- 
ment, at the corner of Congress 
and Barnard Streets, is a model 
of taste and handsome fitting up. 
It comprises nine extensive rooms, 
all packed with a complete and 
varied assortment of drugs, chemi- 
cals, and other articles found in a 
first-class drug store. Twenty-five 
hands are employed, and the annual sales reach upwards of $350,000, and the trade 
extends through Georgia, Florida, South Carolina and Alabama. Being agents for 
some of the largest English manufacturers, and importing direct from them, they are 
enabled to offer inducements which probably no other house in Savannah can dupli- 
cate, and the gratifying increase of sales from year to year proves the liberality and 
wisdom of their policy. Messrs. Lewis, Jacob and Lawrence Lippman comprise the 
firm, all gentlemen of high standing and reputation, both in and out of business 
circles. Their reputation is well established, and no house in the South stands 
higher in any respect than this well-known and thriving firm. 

E. A. K.H^PP— Retail Dnu/gist, 48 Jefferson Street. 

The profession of a druggist is undoubtedly one which above all others 
requires a careful and strict preparation, an accurate knowledge of all the many and 
varied poisonous and non-poisonous preparations used in the pharmacopeia, and a 
power of concentrating the mind on the business in hand to the exclusion of every- 
thing of minor importance. These are the requisites of a successful druggist ; and 
of such men Savannah, in common with other cities, has her full share. Among these 
we will by general consent place Dr. E. A. Knapp, who although established here 
only since 1882 has already won an enviable position among his frateruitj\ The 
doctor is a native of Prescott, province of Ontario, Canada, and there commenced 
the study of his profession. In 1882 he started his present business at 48 Jefferson, 
cor. South Broad Street. His store, which is very commodious and convenient, is 
60x20 feet in dimensions ; the stock carried is valued at S2,000, and the annual sales 
amount to $5,000, and are increasing. He sells only the very best and purest 
medicines, and pays particular attention to the compounding of prescriptions. 
Within the short space of his business career he has gained the confidence of the 
entire community, and will no doubt continue as he has begun. 



TRADE, COMMERCE AND INDUSTRIES. 119 

E J. ACOSTA) JR. — Manufacture}' of Crackers and Candy, Cor. Bay and 
Barnard Streets. 

Associated in a direct or indirect way witli all other industries through the rela- 
tions it sustains to eveiy family and home in city or country, this business has a 
corresponding importance in a work devoted to the various avocations and activities 
of a community. In the preparation of an historical review of the industries of 
Savannah, we take pleasure in noting the important business relations which %he 
sustains to this and adjoining States, and the prominence of her trade and business 
establishments. Among the leading houses of this city is the manufacture of 
crackers and candy, as conducted by Mr. E. J. Acosta, Jr. This enterprise was 
started in 1878 under the firm name Guckenheimer, Schwarz & Co., of which firm 
Mr. Acosta was a member, and he succeeded to the entire control in 1881. The 
premises occupied at the corner of Bay and Barnard Streets are ample and commo- 
dious, are 60x90 feet in dimensions, two floors and the cellar being used in the 
manufacture and storing of supplies, an additional building being required, which is 
30x60 feet, making this one of the largest enterprises of the kind in the entire State. 
All the modern machinery and appliances in use for the manufacture of crackers and 
candy are found in this establishment, and an engine of 35-horse power is provided as 
motive power. A large force of employees are engaged here at work, consisting of 
54 males and 17 females, a total of 71, and the goods manufactured by them are made 
with the view of giving the consumer good value for his money and the retailer some 
profit on his investment. A neat catalogue and price list has been prepared by Mr. 
Acosta, which gives a detailed list of crackers, fancy cakes and confectionary made 
at his establishment, with the wholesale prices attached. The amount of stock carried 
by him is estimated at $15,000 value, while supplies aggregating $175,000 in value 
are distributed throughout the States of South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama and 
Florida. Among other important products of this establishment are prize- packages, 
sugar toys and fruit syrups and nuts ; oranges and fire- works of every description are 
also kept in stock. Mr. Acosta is a native of Southern Georgia, and has resided in 
Savannah since 1865. He has brought to the enterprise in which he has embarked 
ample capital, and a determination to succeed which entitles him to the favorable 
consideration of the trade in this section of the South. 

JOHN SULLIVAN & CO. — Insurance and Real Estate, 114 Bay Stre^. 

In these days of rush and progress, when the population and prosperity of the 
largest cities are increasing at an unheard of ratio, the risks by fire and flood are 
necessarily materially increased, and consequently the guarding against such catas- 
trophes becomes a matter of the gravest consideration. Insurance is the only means 
of remedying such contingencies, and the firm which represents the best and most 
reliable insurance companies is consequently the one to which all who wish to 
provide against loss naturally go — in Savannah, the firm of Jno. Sullivan & Co., of 
which Mr. E. B. Philput is the company. These gentlemen represent the following 
companies : The North British & Mercantile, The Lancashire and The Norwich Union, 
of England, and The Phrenix, of Brooklyn, all fire. These four companies are the 
largest in the world, and the importance of their being represented in Savannah by 
such a well-known firm can scarcely be over-estimated. The present firm was 
started in 1874, and has since its inception taken a leading rank among the compa- 
nies of the place. Mr. John Sullivan is a native of Savannah, Georgia. Mr. E. 



120 SAVANNAH HER 



B. Philput is from Alabama, and has resided here since 1867. In addition to their 
insurance, they also attend to the renting and selling of real estate in all its forms. 
The firm in all respects will compare favorably with any in the city. Mr. Sullivan 
holds the position of treasurer of the Union Society and of Oglethorpe Club. Having 
been all their business lives in insurance, we cheerfully recommend this promising and 
reliable firm to the public. 

— t 

BR ADSTREET'S— Executive Offices, 279, 281 and 283 Broadway, Neic York; 
Savannah Office, Cor. Drai/ton and Bay Streets. 
The importance of a commercial agency cannot be overrated in any respect. On 
its faithful and accurate reports of the standing of the various firms in the 
country depends the welfare of thousands, whose credit may be ruined or irretriev- 
ably hurt by a misrepresentation of even the smallest and apparently most 
unimportant fact. In order to avoid the unpleasant consequences arising from such 
a contingency, the Bradstreet commercial agencj^ was established in 1849, and from 
a small beginning has spread until now it has branch offices in all the principal cities of 
the United States and Canada, in London, P^ngland, and also on the continent and in 
Australia. The head office is located at 279, 281 and 283 Broadway, N. Y., and the 
Savannah branch at the corner of Drayton and Bay Streets. It was established in 
18G9, and controls the entire State of Georgia and part of Florida. The two rooms 
which they occupy are 20x25 ft. each in dimensions, and are neatly and conveniently 
fitted up and well ventilated. Four clerks are employed in transacting the business, 
which amounts to $5,000 to $6,000 per annum, and is increasing. Mr. Geo. T. 
Nichols, the manager, is a native of Savannah, and has lived here all his life. His 
intimate acquaintance with all the leading men of the city enables him to fill accept- 
ably the position he occupies. During his term of office he has given general 
satisfaction to all, and has very materialh^ advanced the interests of the company in 
this section. He is courteous, affable, and is generally liked and esteemed. 

C. NOBLE — Greenhouses and Ice Cream Garden; Plants, Bouquets and Cut 

Flowers; Entomological Specimens for Sale or Exchange; 60 Bull Street. 
Of the notable establishments in Savannah, that of Mr. G. Noble, on Bull Street, 
occupies a unique position. Being the only one in his line in the city, he is without 
competitioo, and is thus enabled to perform the best work on the most reasonable 
terms. He is a skilful taxidermist, and can stuff in the most artistic manner any 
variety of bird or beast, from the tiny humming bird to the huge bear or elk. In 
addition to his profession, he has also extensive greenhouses and an ice cream garden, 
where all the delicacies of the season can be procured, and the rarest flowers and 
plants purchased, at a moderate price and in any quantities. He also sells canaries, 
hanging baskets, Noble's Improved Bird Invigorator and Mocking Bird Food, an 
excellent food for birds, prepared by himself, and other articles. Mr. Noble is a 
native of England, but has resided in Savannah for sixteen years, and in that time 
has become a complete Savannahian, and by his industry and energy has made his 
establishment one of the features of Bull Street, it being a favorite resort of ladies 
and their escorts, and an excellent place in which to while away the long, hot summer 
evenings. His work is well-known, and generally conceded to be equal to any. In 
all respects this establishment is worthy of the patronage of the public, and we 
would advise all who need work in his line to give him a call. 



TRADE, COMMERCE AJTO INDUSTRIES. 



121 




THOMAS WEST — Wholesale and Retail Crockery, 185 and 187 Broughton 

Street. 

Mr. West's establishment is undoubtedly ranked among the representative ones of 
Savannah. He started in his present line some twelve years ago, and by industry, 

application and reliability has worked himself up 
to the position of one of the leading men in his 
branch of trade in Savannah. From a small be- 
ginning, his trade has gradually increased until 
now it reaches the handsome total of $40,000 per 
annum, and is increasing in a most gratifying 
proportion. His customers are residents of Flor- 
ida, Alabama, the Carolinas, and also of Georgia. 
His establishment, a handsome, three-story brick 
store, is conveniently located in the business 
portion of the city, is well fitted up with every 
facility for carrying on the business, and the dis- 
play of goods is not inferior to any in the city, 
either for completeness or variety. Mr. West 
makes a specialty of the world-renowned Havi- 
land French China, and also carries a full and 
carefully selected stock of crockery, and glass, 
^^ table cutlery, silver-plated ware, toys, and house 
fui'nishing goods. No house in Savannah can 
offer better inducements to purchasers than this. 
Mr. West has made a life-long study of his business, and is in every way fitted to 
conduct it on its present extensive scale. He can offer inducements to buyers which 
few others can, and we cheerfully recommend him to all who wish fair and open 
dealings in all respects. 

A- R. ALTMAYER & CO, — Notions, Millinery, Fancy Goods, Shoes, etc., 
135 Broughton Street. 

Honor in business always pays a fair and sure dividend ; and those establishments 
conducted upon principles of unflinching integrity are certain to advance in public 
favor and to command a liberal patronage. Such has been the experience of A. R. 
Altmaji-er & Co. , who for the past ten years have been in the front rank in the trade, 
requiring at present to conduct their business no less than forty hands. The large 
stock, liberal prices, and liberal treatment of its patrons, have caused the house to 
become known, and the trade at present reaches over the entire State, Florida and 
other sections. Such an extensive trade requires purchasing in large quantities, and 
on this account they are able to offer goods at much less prices than their would-be 
competitors in trade. They carry a most complete stock of millinery, fancy goods, 
notions, etc., all tastefully displayed. Mr. A. R. Altmayer, the proprietor, resides in 
New York ; but Mr. L. Adler, the manager, is a 3^oung man of ability and busi- 
ness capacity, and looks closely after the interests of the firm. Dealers and others 
generally will" find it to their advantage to do business with this enterprising firm, 
as they offer inducements which scarcely any other can offer. Everything which 
can possibly be thought of in their line is in their stock, comprising the finest silks 
and satins, as well as the commoner grades, and all placed at prices which defy com- 
petition. 



122 SAVANNAH HER 



JOHN FLANNERY & CO. — Cotton Factors and Commission^ Bay Street. 

The elements of wealth of every country are in the agricultural products, and all 
mercantile branches which act as auxiliaries to the productive results and commercial 
movement of these prime factors are of co-relative importance. Savannah is the 
market for a large cotton-growing country, and the enterprising policy and liberal 
dealing of her merchants handling the staple are yearly augmenting the receipts at 
this port, and stimulating the planters to re-invigorated efforts and increased produc- 
tion. The commercial status of the Southern coast cities is determined by the cotton 
receipts, as is that of Western cities by the receipts and transhipments of cereals, 
and Savannah is indebted for the progressive strides she has made and the mercantile 
reputation she has gained abroad during the last decade more to her cotton merchants 
than to any other class. Their active enterprise and sound business methods have 
swollen the receipts until she now is rated as the second cotton city in the United 
States — wresting supremacy from older and larger cities by sheer vim and ability. 
The planter, actively occupied with the care of his plantation, the cultivation and 
garnering of his crop, and afterwards in its disposition in the market, is dependent 
on the assistance of the factor to accomplish these results in a satisfactory and profit- 
able manner. The factorage business is peculiar to the South ; the planters, espe- 
cially since the war, are unable to carry on their avocation from limited means. The 
factor supplies the " sinews of war," for which he receives a small per cent, of inter- 
est. When the crop is gathered he receives it, disposes of it to the best advantage, 
for which he also receives a fee, and remits balance of proceeds to the planter. It 
is a system of agency, banking and commission combined. There are, of course, 
a number of business men engaged in this branch in all the coast cities ; and as in all 
competitive occupations some will outrank, overdo and succeed better than others, we 
propose, in the interests of our work and of that of the city, to allude descriptively 
to the more prominent factors in Savannah. Among them we find classed, by general 
opinion, from the amount of business transacted, mercantile position occupied, and 
influence exercised, the house of John Flannery & Co., which was established in 
1877, Mr. Flannery previously being 'a member of the firm of L. Guilmartin & Co., 
which firm was dissolved that year, the control of the entire assets passing into his 
hands by purchase. Mr. John D. Johnson became a member of the firm in 1877, 
under the present firm title. Having, in all positions occupied and in all business 
operations transacted, evidenced the possession of abilities of a high order, and 
in all situations displayed the most scrupulous honor and intelligent enterprise, 
business came almost unsought, and the success of this firm has been equal to any 
competing house in the South. From the close confidential relations existing between 
the factor and the planter, the greatest trust must be reposed in the honor and offices 
of the factor — it is essentially a position of implicit confidence in all its operations. 
Their transactions extend to the States of South Carolina and Florida, although they 
principally are confined to Georgia. Some 40,000 bales of cotton are handled in the 
season. Sixteen assistants are employed — eight in the office, and eight in the 
warehouse. Mr. Flannery, from his well-known ability and position, has been 
selected to occupy offices of public trust, confidence and honor. He is president of 
the Southern Bank, a director in the Cotton Exchange, and in the Tyler and 
Hydraulic Presses, and chairman of the City Sinking-Fund Commission. He is a 
n^ative of Ireland, a resident of Savannah for the past thirty years, and thoroughly 
and actively identified with her interests. Mr. Johnson is a native Georgian. 



TRADE, COMMERCE AND INDUSTRIES. 123 



M. Y. HENDERSON — Cotton Factor and General Commisson Merchant^ 180 
Bay Street. 

Among those houses which are most intimately connected with the history of 
Savannah, its struggle, growth and subsequent prosperity, sharing and promoting 
every matter of public interest, the house of M. Y. Henderson will assuredly take a 
prominent position.- For a number of years its career has been closely allied to the 
cotton and commission business in its various stages, and in a marked degree con- 
tributes to the thrift and importance which place this branch of commerce upon so 
solid and substantial a footing. Established in 1850, it has gone through a long and 
useful career up to the present time, and to-day with renewed vigor looks for- 
ward to many years of usefulness and success. Mr. Henderson is a native of Savan- 
nah, and having lived here all his business life is thoroughly acquainted with the 
financial and general history of the city, a fact which is of great service to him in his 
extensive business connection. His premises are 40x60 feet in dimensions, three 
floors, and conveniently situated in the very heart of the great business street of the 
city. Five competent hands are employed. His trade, which is chiefly with Boston, 
extends also through New York, Baltimore and Philadelphia. He receives large con- 
signments of cotton from all parts, but his chief trade is in wool, hides, wax and 
deerskins, of which he yearly buys immense quantities, and pays cash for them at fair 
and liberal prices. His annual business compares favorably with similar houses and 
is increasing. The demand for the products which he buys is daily increasing, and 
the supply is some imes far short. This is one of the representative houses of 
Savannah, and pays the best and highest cash prices, and also having other facilities 
is a proper one to which farmers, planters and others should consign. He is too well 
known to need any further recommendation at our hands. Parties who wish to open 
correspondence with one who will look most closely after their interests, will find it 
to their advantage to write to or call on him. 

SCREVEN HOUSE — Geo. W. Sergent, Proprietor, cor. Bull and Congress Streets. 
As the social and moral qualities of men and women are rated according to the 
company they keep, the pretensions of a city are generally judged by the character 
of her hotels. Comfortable quarters and generous fare are inducive to good humor, 
liberality and fair dealing. On the contrary, it is equally true that cramped, gloomy 
quarters and unpalatable cooking are formidable agents in driving trade from those 
points where they are too often the chief characteristics of trade establishments. 
A good hotel, well kept, most comfortably furnished, thoroughly ventilated, and in 
a central locality, actually amounts to thousands of dollars to the business men of a 
city where such an hotel is located. All travelers use hotels for their special purpose, 
shelter, sleeping and eating. Such an one is the Screven House, established about 
nineteen years ago. This house has maintained a leading position among the hotels 
of the city. Tourists, and parties of onr own country in search of a mild climate 
during the winter months, seldom fail to visit Savannah, and among the first-class 
hotels of our city the Screven House stands prominent, enjoying a fair share of 
the patronage of visitors to this, the " Forest City of the South." Located at the 
corner of Bull and Congress Streets, in the strictly business portion of the city, 
convenient to all places of amusement and the several depots of the railroads center- 
ing here, this is a most desirable resting place. The building occupied is a four- 
story brick, containing one hundred rooms, and all the modern improvements, 



1^4 SAVANNAH HER 



including a passenger elevator, this being the only hotel in the city having the latest 
convenience. The parlors are spacious and elegant, and the clerks are thoroughly 
conversant with their business, polite and attentive. The table is set with the best 
the market and season affords, and the "cooking" leaves no room for other than 
congratulations. The full capacity of the house is for two hundred guests, and an 
elegant billiard parlor and a first-class bar are connected with the house ; also, a 
barber shop, presided over by competent barbers. These attractions, backed by an 
attentive corps of servants, make it one of the most desirable stopping places in the 
city. Mr. Geo. W. Sergent is the proprietor, a native of Charleston, and possesses 
a life-time experience in this line. He and the manager, Mr. Harr}"- A. Kilburn, of 
Vermont, are well known to the traveling public and our citizens as successful and 
efficient hotel men. The Screven House is officered, from host down, by considerate, 
genial gentlemen, never neglecting the comfort of guests, but always promoting their 
ease and enjoyment, adding to the esteem they richly merit and possess of the public. 

FRANKlBUCHANAN— /??oe Broker, 54 Bay Street. 

As a branch of industry of considerable magnitude, and a peculiarly successful 
one in Savannah — one, at the same time, forming an important factor of the commer- 
cial prosperity of the city — the rice trade and those engaged in it, either directly 
or indirectly, are entitled to consideration in the compilation of a work having for its 
object an historical review of the mercantile and industrial resources of the city. 
Mr. Frank Buchanan commenced business here as a rice broker in 1H79, and has 
since that time been favored with a liberal and steadily increasing share of the 
patronage of merchants and dealers in this and adjoining States. " There are few that 
realize the magnitude and importance of this line of trade, and it can onl}^ be appre- 
ciated properly when we state that Mr. Buchanan, as perhaps the largest rice broker 
in the city, disposes of 250,000 bushels of rice each j-ear. Close attention to busi- 
ness, ability to anticipate the wants of the trade, and reasonable prices, have justly 
contributed toward his success, and though there have been rival firms to contend 
with, he has fairly encountered and successfully overcome all obstacles. Mr. 
Buchanan is a native of Annapolis, Md. , but has lived in Savannah for eleven 
years. He has been in this business since 1873, but established himself alone in 
1879, and his transactions are principally confined to Georgia and South Carolina. 
The business enterprise which has marked his career is worthy of iiriitation, placing 
his house, as it does, in the front ranks of high commercial circles. 



C. S. McALPIN— //o.v, Corn, Bran, Peas, Rye, Oats, etc., 172 Bay Street. 

In a city like Savannah the consumption of cereals, as well as hay, bran, etc., must 
necessarily be enormous, and to meet its demands there are several large and impor- 
tant houses which devote their exclusive attention to this branch of trade, importing 
largely from all the great grain centers of the country. Occupying a leading place 
among these is the well-known establishment of Mr. G. S. McAlpin, which from its 
inception in 1883 has risen slowly but surely to the position of one of the most reli- 
able and energetic houses in this line, and by its energy and reliability has usurped a 
large trade from less enterprising competitors. The establishment comprises three 
floors, each 30x75 feet, and the stock carried includes a full line of all kinds of feed 
aud hay, while the annual sales foot up about $150,000. Six capable and active 
assistants are employed. Tiie trade extends throughout the entire city and sur- 



TRADE, COMMERCE AKD INDUSTRIES. 125 

rounding country, and is rapidly growing. Mr. McAlpin, buying as lie does direct 
from the great grain centers and paying cash for his goods, is enabled to offer terms 
to dealers, buyers, planters and consumers which cannot be surpassed. He watches 
the fluctuations of the market closely and keenly, and is consequently always able to 
dispose of stock to the best advantage. He is a gentleman of high character, and 
throughout all his business relations has gained and retained the esteem of the com- 
munity of which his house is so important a member. Combining as he does ample 
capital and business experience with a thorough knowledge of present occupation, 
farmers and planters who wish to find a profitable market for their goods can find 
none fitter than he to whom to sell. Buj^ers will find his stock always full and often 
replenished, and from which they can make selections to suit. 

E. C. PACETTI — Guttering, Tin Roofing^ Leading anil \Repairing, No. 33 

Jefferson Street. 

Roofing and guttering form one of the most important constituents in building ; 
and the importance of having these well and thoroughly done is at once evident to all 
who understand the necessity of having the roof under which they live water-tight. 
One of the best roofers and gutterers in Savannah is Mr. E. C. Pacetti, who by a long 
and diligent study of his profession has attained a proficiency and competency which 
few can boast of. His work, of which he is justly proud, can be seen in many of the 
finest residences in Savannah, and has stood the test of many years of rough and in- 
clement weather successfully. Mr. Pacetti has resided in Savannah for seven years, 
and during that time has won an enviable reputation for himself. His appliances 
and tools for carrying on his business are of the most improved and modern make, 
and his assistants are skillful and competent. All work is guaranteed and invariably 
comes up to standard. All who wish the best class of work will do well to corre- 
spond with or call on him. 

STRAUSS & CO. — Cotton and Commission, 132h Bay Street; E. Karoio, 
Manager. 

The pre-eminence of Savannah as a cotton port is due in a great degree to the 
energy and push of foreign houses, who, establishing agencies here, have given trade 
an impetus and life it has never known before. Among these the house of Strauss & 
Co. occupy a leading place. From the beginning this house has actively promoted 
the cotton interests of Savannah in every possible way, and to-day it ranks as one of 
the largest in Savannah, and when the total exports from the branch houses at New 
Orleans, Galveston and Savannah, which amount to 150,000 bales, are considered, it 
ranks as one of the greatest firms in the world. From Savannah 40,000 bales are 
annually exported to all parts of England and the continent. The two heads of the 
firm, Messrs. Bernhard and Fritz Strauss, reside in Liverpool and New Orleans. In 
England there is an office at Liverpool and one at Manchester. To manage success- 
fully a business so immense and varied in its aspects requires, besides the necessary 
capital, no ordinary amount of talent and business capacity, and these qualities the 
heads of the firm possess in an eminent degree, as does also their Savannah manager, 
Mr. Edward Karow, who conducts this branch with an energy and ability which 
entitle him to rank among the best business men in Savannah. He is a native of 
Germany, but has resided in America for several years, and having had a long and 
thorough training is thoroughl}^ fitted to conduct the affairs of this house. 



126 



SAVANNAH HER 




HAYNES flr ELTON — Forest City 31iUs, cor. Congress and Montgomery Streets. 

There is probably no enterprise wliich can engage the attention of an individual, 
or firm, which contributes more directly to the prosperity and business interests of a 
community than that of merchant flouring mills, and at the same time occasionally 
meets with uncalled-for complaints and lack of appreciation from those it directly 
benefits. In addition to the natural advantages possessed by Savannah as a dis- 
tributing center for this section, 
\_ the enterprise of her merchants 
^i :ind manufacturers has given to 
P?5S^^^&- ihe city an enviable reputation, as 

j^g: a base of supplies for many of the 
indispensable articles of every-day 
use and consumption, among which 
flour, as the recognized " staff of 
life," occupies a prominent po- 
sition. The Forest City Mills 
have been familiar to the resi- 
dents of this section since 1865. 
They are provided with extended 
facilities, and have a large producing capacity, have acquired a wide-spread celebrity, 
and the various brands manufactured here have come to be regarded as standards of 
value among dealers and commission merchants in this part of the South. The build- 
ing is a three-story brick, supplied with all the requisite machinery for prosecuting 
the manufacture of flour, which is operated by an engine of 60 horse-power, requiring 
the assistance of a large force of experienced hands. Four run of stones, of the 
Burr sj'stem, are used, two for wheat and two for corn. Among the leading brands 
for which these mills have acquired a deservedly high reputation may be especially 
mentioned the Haynes' Patent, Oglethorpe, Half Patent, Choice Fancy Family, Fores 
City Family, Oconee E^xtra, Jos. Wheeler Extra, Rock Falls Superior, XXX Superior, 
and Pine Grove Flour. The local popularity of these well-known varieties ensures a 
large sale for home consumption, and their reputation in Southern markets creates a 
demand which taxes to the utmost extent the already large capacity of the mills. In 
connection with the flouring mills, this firm carry a full line of grain, flour and pro- 
visions, including grits, meal, corn, oats, hay and bacon, for which they enjoy a good 
share of patronage throughout this and adjoining States. Messrs. S. G. and L. 
Haynes and J. H. Elton are the individual members of the firm, and they probably 
are the most extensive manufacturers and operators in flour in the State, their annual 
business reaching $1,000,000, with prospects of steady increase in the future. 
Messrs. Haynes came here eighteen years ago from Baltimore, Md., and are mem- 
bers of the Board of Trade in this city. Mr. Elton is an old resident of Savannah, 
and well-known among our citizens. These gentlemen are interested in all public 
matters pertaining to the development of the commerce and resources of the city, 
and it is largely due to the enterprise and sagacity of such representative manufact- 
urers that the city of Savannah is indebted for the proud position it occupies to-day 
as an industrial and commercial metropolis. The States of South Carolina, Georgia 
and Florida are largely supplied with grain, flour and provisions from the establish- 
ment of Messrs. Haynes & Elton, and sixty experienced and competent employees 
are required to attend to the work in the various departments of the business, and 



TRADE, COMMERCE AND INDUSTRIES. 127 

twelve teams or wagons are constantly engaged in transferring supplies to and from 
their place of business. Thoroughly identified with the progressive spirit of this 
growing city, and possessing the essential requisites of sound iudgment and care in 
their business policy, they present the strongest claims to popular favor with those 
desiring business relations in this department of our business activities. 

OSCEOLA BUTLER— Druggist, 125 Congress Street. 

The drug business throughout the United States has within the last ten years as- 
sumed such vast proportions that a complete survey of it in our space would be 
utterly impossible, and we must unwillingly confine ourselves to a notice of the 
leading houses in Savannah, and among which the house whose name heads this 
article holds first rank, being one of the three largest in the city. The handsome and 
well appointed store of Mr. Butler is conveniently located on Congress Street. It 
comprises a space of 30x60 feet and two stories, while six efficient and attentive 
assistants are employed. The stock is valued at $15,000 and the annual sales amount 
to $50,000, and are rapidly increasing, the sales extending through Georgia, South 
Carolina and Florida. The stock comprises everything to be found in a first-class 
drug store: American and foreign chemicals, dye stuffs, drugs, patent and pro- 
prietary medicines, perfumes, toilet articles, etc., and from the best houses, American 
and European, and in fact everything which constitutes one of the best drug stores in 
the South. Mr. Butler is a native of Virginia, but has lived in Savannah for twenty- 
eight years. In 1858 he commenced business as Stewart & Butler, and in 1876 
assumed his present title. He is an old and experienced druggist, having been in the 
business since 1856, and throughout his whole career has gained and maintained a 
high reputation and character both as a druggist and otherwise. His establishment 
is a representative one, and will doubtless continue so througliout its existence, which 
we hope may be many years. 

ANDREW HAN LEY— Patnte and Oils, 37 and 39 Whitaker Street. 

It has been said by an eminent statician, that the growth of the world in all the 
arts, manufactures and luxuries of life has been greater proportionately within the 
last thirty years than for any hundred years preceding, and this statement, which 
seems at first rather exaggerated, is proved by a glance at and comparison of the 
commercial and manufacturing statistics of any civilized country of the former period 
with the present. Formerly it was the work of a lifetime for a man to accumulate 
what in these days is the result often of one brilliant speculation or business venture ; 
now a man can by industry'- and business vim and pluck, in a comparatively brief 
period, raise himself to the summit of prosperity and affluence. America above all 
others offers a field for bold and energetic spirits, who, full of energy and ambition, 
leave the overcrowded and cramped existence of the Old World to seek fame and 
fortune in the New. To men like these, who come to work and devote their talents and 
time to the welfare of their adopted home, a warm welcome is always accorded, and in a 
short time they become an important part of any community in which they settle. 
Savannah, by reason of her immense and growing trade both in cotton and naval 
stores, and also in the other branches of trade, affords afield of enterprise not inferior 
to any city in the South, and can boast of establishments in all branches equal to any ; 
and it is a matter of pride that many of her very largest business houses, and in this 
instance the largest, are owned and conducted by foreigners, who, however, take as 



128 SAVANNAH HER 



much pride in their adopted city, and often more, than any native. Undoubtedly the 
largest paint and oil store in the South, outside of New Orleans, is the immense whole- 
sale establishment of Mr. Andrew Hanley on Whitaker Street. The building, like the 
business, is apart from and larger than anj^ on the street. It occupies a space G0x91 
feet in dimensions and is six stories in height, being surmounted by a handsome 
cupola. Within is a small world of activity and rush. Twenty-six hands are kept 
constantly busy filling orders and arranging the stock, which amounts in value to 
$50,000, while the annual sales run up to the enormous total of $175,000. The man- 
ager and conductor of this vast business, Mr. Andrew Hanley, is a native of Dublin, 
Ireland, was born there in 1847, having lived in Savannah fifteen years. He com- 
menced his present business in 1872, and by his energy and activity has in eleven 
years built up the largest trade in this section, extending through Georgia, Florida, 
Alabama and South Carolina. Mr. Hanley is too well known to require any special 
notice at our hands. Starting with no capital, he has attained* his present position by 
bravely battling with Fortune ; and now, while yet in the prime of life, has achieved a 
success vouchsafed to but few men of raaturer years. 

HORSE INFIRMARY— I>r. J. J. Dillon, Proprietor, West Broad and York 

Streets. 
In compiling statistics of business for Savannah, and in making up a business his- 
tory, no enterprise is of more importance to our people than our infirmaries, whether 
for the treatment of mankind or of dumb animals. Dr. Dillon's horse infirmary is 
situated in a most eligible location, and has every facility for the successful treatment 
of all classes of horses and mules. Many valuable animals have been saved from 
death by the skillful treatment they received here. Dr. Dillon has an experience of 
twenty-five j-ears in his profession, and is therefore thoroughly fitted for its success- 
ful pursuit. He can accommodate 100 head of animals in his infirmary, and employs 
capable and skillful help in attending on his dumb patients. His charges are reason- 
able, and for a few dollars many a valuable animal has been saved. The Doctor 
stands high in all respects, is an honorable and upright gentleman, and has the con- 
fidence of his patrons and the community. 

C. W. ALLEN — China, Glass and House Furnishing Goods, 165^ Broughton St. 
The immense demand for crockery and glass has for some years past been on the 
increase, consequently the number of establishments for the sales of these wares has 
increased in a proportionate degree. Savannah has several large and complete crock- 
ery warehouses, and among these that of Mr. G. W. Allen holds a prominent position. 
Established in 1805, it has increased until now the stock carried amounts to about 
$25,000, and the sales annually to $20,000. Four eflScient hands are employed, and 
the trade embraces the surrounding country and Florida, the high grade and quality 
of the articles sold being everywhere acknowledged. Mr. Allen is a native of 
Ireland, tbut fhas, with the exception of some years spent in Florida, lived here 
since 1854. His stock embraces all varieties of crockery and glassware, from the finest 
to the most common, to suit all classes of purchasers, and is well selected and 
arranged. His assortment of house furnishing goods of every description is also very 
complete, embracing all articles necessary to the outfit of a residence. He is a 
gentleman of excellent standing, prompt and reliable, and attends closely to business. 
In all respects his establishment is worthy of the patronage of the public. 



TRADE, COMMERCE AJSTD INDUSTRIES. 129 

DR. DUDLEY COX — Livestock Commission Merchant and Proprietor Savannah 
Sale Stables and Stock Yards, Corner West Broad and William Streets. 

Undoubtedly our work on the business industries and trade of Savannah will pass 
through the hands and undergo the critical inspection of merchants and business men 
of all classes, and, among these, many live stock dealers and others who devote their 
attention to the rearing and selling of mules and horses, and to these the establish- 
ment of Dr. Dudley Cox must possess a peculiar interest, constituting as it does 
probably the largest and most important place in its line in Savannah. He does a 
strictly commission business, and consequently can offer and obtain the best rates for 
his patrons. His long and thorough experience in his line has made him familiar 
with his business in its minutest details, and he enjoys facilities which cannot be easily 
surpassed or equalled anywhere. His yards can accommodate at least 500 cattle, 100 
head of horses, and 100 of other animals. His assistants are liberally paid, and are 
thoroughly trained and competent to manage the large consignments which he receives 
daily from all parts of the United States. His account sales and transfers are prompt- 
ly forwarded to his patrons and always give entire satisfaction. Possessing ample 
capital, he is enabled to conduct his business on the most liberal principles. 




ROBERT D. }N ALKER— Monuments, Mantels, Grates, etc., York Street, 
opposite Trinity Church. 

Whatever may be said in praise of the attainments in designs or sculptured in- 
genuity of former days in the old world, it must be admitted that the skill and genius 

of American productions in this department 
will not suffer, at the present day, by the 
most critical scrutiny in comparison, and it 
is not an unjustified boast to assert that the 
ability and productions of Savannah will 
make a favorable showing with any city in 
the South. If you will visit the works of 
Mr. Robert D, Walker on York Street, and 
examine the various styles and specimens 
always to be found there, in marble and granite monuments, you cannot fail to receive 
a profound impression of the high attainments of American sculptural art. This 
establishment was founded in 1840, and has attained a prominent position among 
similar concerns in this part of the country. The grounds occupied are ample for 
the prosecution of the business, which embraces not only transactions in marble and 
granite, but every description of cemetery work in either, and also fine parlor grates, 
mantels of all kinds, in iron and slate, etc. Ten skilled and experienced mechanics 
are employed, and every article turned out at this establishment is most satisfactory 
in every respect. The success which has attended the operations of this house is the 
highest public tribute to the superior skill and business ability of the proprietor, and 
may be found in the fact that some of the finest monuments in our cemeteries have 
been produced at these works. Shipments are made to all parts of Alabama, also 
into Florida and other adjacent States. It is but a true tribute to skill and ability to 
record the fact that the citizens of Savannah and contributory territory may congrat- 
ulate themselves upon the facilities and high artistic accomplishments here displayed, 
which find no superiors and few equals in this section of the country. 



130 SAVANNAH HER 



W. M. MILLS— Retail Drugs, 61 Jefferson Street. 

Among the prominent drug stores of Savannah, we unhesitatingly place that of 
W. M. Mills, on Jefferson Street. Started in 1873, with moderate but sufficient capi- 
tal, he has, by diligent and strict attention to business, increased, until now his stock 
is valued at $5,000, and his annual sales amount to $10,000, and are increasing. 
His store, which embraces an area of 30x60 ft., contains a large and very complete 
assortment of the best drugs and medicines, all selected by himself from the 
best manufacturers in the country. There is also a very choice assortment of 
fancy goods, combs, toilet articles, perfumes, and other articles of use and luxury. 
Dr. Mills is a native of Savannah, born in 1849, and has all his life been in the drug 
business, being thus as fully qualified as possible for the responsible position which 
he holds in the community. He is well known in the community as a conscientious 
and reliable druggist, and has the entire confidence of his customers and the com- 
munity at large. Among his many excellent preparations we would notice his cough 
mixtures, which are very popular, and his diarrhoea mixtures, which effectually check 
the most aggravated form of that disease. To those who wish either a prescription 
carefully prepared, or the best medicines and toilet articles, we would advise an early 
call at his establishment. 

E. M. CONNOR — Boolis, Stationery, etc., 126 Bronghton Street & 23^ Bull Street. 
The establishment of Mr. Connor is undoubtedly the leading book store of Savannah. 
Occupying as it does a favorable location in the central part of the city, it is fre- 
quented and patronized by the best classes, who find here the choicest literature of 
the day at the most reasonable prices. Mr. Connor carries a very complete stock of 
books, comprising the works of the most popular authors, American and European, 
bound in all styles, from the costliest to the cheapest. His supply of fancy articles, 
writing desks, blank books, photographs, paper cutters and other articles of use and 
virtu is also very complete, and is constantly being replenished by fresh arrivals. 
Mr. Connor is a gentleman of long experience and business ability, and is generally 
popular with all his customers. He is ably seconded in his business by his daughters, 
and the stock therefore receives more attention and is better kept than it would be in 
the hands of hired clerks. The store is well deserving the liberal patronage it re- 
ceives from all, and is a pleasant place in which to while away an half hour. 

HERMAN L. SCHREINER— ^ooA;, Stationery, Music and Toy House, 
120 Congress Street. 

This house has been in existence in this State over a quarter of a century, and is the 
oldest in that line in Savannah. Mr. H. L. Schreiner visits Europe every j'car, and 
there selects all the latest novelties. The sales of toys and fancy goods amount 
yearly to a very large sum and are increasing rapidl3% Although there are in this city 
several establishments which deal exclusively in these articles, the largest by far and 
the most important one is that of H. L. Schreiner, which has for years been one of the 
features of Savannah. The establishment comprises three floors, and the stock is as 
complete and varied as possible, consisting of wax and china dolls, wood and papier 
mach^ toys, Bohemian glassware, vases, inkstands, willow ware, besides all the 
domestic toys manufactured. The stationery department contains the finest impor- 
tations as well as the best domestic products of writing paper, envelopes, pens, ink, 
pencils, etc. One of the leading departments of this establishment is that of musical 



TRADE, COMMERCE AND INDUSTRIES. 131 

instruments and music. Mr. S. has lately imported from Europe a fine stock of 
pianos selected by himself while in Europe during the past summer. Mr. S. ranks 
among the best musicians and pianists of the South, and his thorough knowledge and 
long experience give him advantages enjoyed by few if any in the trade. The stock 
of violins, guitars, flutes, accordeons, brass band instruments, etc., is selected every 
year in Europe, and the house can compete with any music house in the country. The 
sheet music department contains the latest publications of the day. The celebrated 
pianos of Wm. Knabe & Co., and Ernst Gabler & Bro., as well as the well-known 
parlor organs of the Bridgeport Organ Co. and Peloubet & Co., are regularly kept in 
stock. The assortment of small instruments is complete, containing full sets of brass 
band instruments of the best manufacture. Also violins, flutes, guitars, banjos, 
tambourines, drums, and violin, guitar, banjo and violoncello strings of the best quality. 
In the stationery department, the finest imported and domestic writing papers, pens, 
pencils, inkstands, form a beautiful array for the supply of banks and mercantile 
oflSces. An examination of these particular goods, styles and prices is worth the 
attention of purchasers. 

THOMAS BOViDEN^Sales Stables, 214 Broughton Street. 

The establishment of Mr. Thomas Bowden, on Broughton Street, is one of the 
best known and most liberally patronized in the city. This is owing to the general 
high reputation of the place in all respects ; and also to the energy, industry and 
business capacity of the proprietor, which all combine to render it one of the most 
desirable places at which to purchase a first-class animal at most reasonable price. 
Mr. Bowden is one of the best judges of horse-flesh to be found in Savannah, and all 
of his stock is invariably what he represents it to be. He keeps on hand a number of 
the finest Kentucky horses, all tested and proved, and which he sells at a most reason- 
able figure. Competent assistants are employed, who all thoroughly understand their 
business. All who desire to examine or buy some of the finest horses found any- 
where, will find it to their advantage to call on him. Mr, Bowden is generally liked 
and esteemed in the community, and is well deserving the liberal patronage accorded 
him. 

ALLEN & LINDSAY — Furniture and Carpets, 169 and 171 Broughton Street. 
The reform which of late years has taken place in every style of article or utensil, 
either necessary or ornamental, has extended in perhaps a greater degree than in 
any other to the furniture, and in scarcely a less degree to the carpet trade, which 
either separately or collectively engage the attention and best talents of thousands of 
workmen and designers in all the great manufacturing centres of the Union. The rage 
for the antique has culminated in a complete revival of styles once considered obsolete, 
but now acknowledged to be the perfection of beauty and elegance. The graceful 
and elegant sideboard of one hundred and fifty years ago is now confessedly superior 
both in design and finish to the best efforts of modern workmen ; and the same is true 
of all other articles of furniture. The reason of this is apparent to one who has 
studied the matter closely. The workmen of the past devoted weeks or months to the 
decoration of a single panel, and when finished it was at once recognized as among the 
masterpieces of art. His whole soul and genius were in his work, and the result was 
a triumph of art, ingenuity and patient application ; to-day a set task is given each to 
perform at so much per day, and when finished, his work, though coldly correct, can- 



132 SAVAXNAH HER 



not for one moment bear comparison with that of his fellow. The revival of the old 
styles is therefore a most happy augury of the future of the furniture trade con- 
sidered as an art, and workmen are already rivalling the masterpieces of by-gone days, 
and will no doubt in time fully equal if not surpass them. Of carpets the same maj^ 
be said ; the E^nglish factories, particular!}^ the Axminster, taking the lead of all 
modern factories. In Savannah there is as keen an appreciation of the beautiful in both 
these department as elsewhere ; and foremost among the houses whose stock is remark- 
able for beauty and elegance, we notice that of Allen & Lindsaj'-. Started in 187G with 
small capital, it has within this short space increased, until now the stock carried 
amounts to $40,000, and the annual sales to $100,000 and over. On an average 
twenty hands are employed. The establishment comprises two stores, 30x90 feet 
each, with three stories and cellar, and the stock is all that could be desired both for 
beauty and variety. Mr. D. G. Allen, the senior member of the firm, is a native of 
Ireland, has lived in Savannah for ten years ; Mr. W. J. Lindsay, a native of New 
York, in Savannah sixteen years. Both are gentlemen of high standing and reputa- 
tion, and their present splendid business is the result of their own energ}^ and appli- 
cation. In all respects this firm is a representative one, and a credit to the com- 
munity by which it is so liberally patronized. 

H. SANDERS — Wholesale Dealer in Lager Beer, Ale, Porter, etc., 185 South 
Broad, corner Jefferson Street. 
This well-known establishment is undoubtedly one of the most reliable and trust- 
worthy in Savannah, worthy both as regards the general reputation of the proprietor 
and the quality of the liquors there sold, and its reputation is not limited to Savannah, 
but extends throughout the State and adjoining ones. Mr. Sanders commenced in 
1873, having first expended a considerable sum on his buildings, fitting them up with 
cellars, refrigerators, etc., in order to make it what it is, a first-class place in every 
respect. He is now able to offer the citizens the best liquors at a most reasonable 
price and at all seasons in a perfectly cool and fresh condition. He has every 
facility for bottling and handling all kinds of imported ale, porter and beer. He is 
also agent for the world-renowned beer of John F. Betz & Son, of Philadelphia ; the 
Empire Brewery, of New York, and other well-known establishments, and is prepared 
to offer it either by barrels or cases in perfect condition. His trade at present is 
largely in Savannah, where he enjoys a liberal share of patronage. One single and 
two double teams are constantly employed in delivering his goods all over the city. No 
establishment in the South offers better facilities. Mr. Sanders is a gentleman of 
high standing and is generally liked and esteemed. 

HESS & HERMES— Photographers, 177 Congress. 

Photography has made as much advance and progress as any enterprise during the 
last twenty-five years, and now we get likenesses where we were formerly satisfied 
with pictures, at least so we find in the new and handsome gallery of Hess «& Hermes, 
at 177 Congress Street. They have just opened up, and as a matter of course have 
the newest and best processes for taking likenesses. The rooms are selected 
especially with a view to doing good work, and are well fitted up and lighted. They 
keep on exhibition fine specimens of their work, from which the public maj'' judge of 
their work. Enterprising men, they well deserve the handsome patronage which has 
already been accorded them. 



TRADE, COMMERCE AND INDUSTRIES. 133 

ROBERT H. TATEM — Retail Druggist^ 146 Liberty Street, cor. Whitaker St. 

A first-class drug store must always in every community hold a unique position, 
and the best proof of the esteem in which it is held is evinced by the amount of 
patronage it enjoys. In Savannah, one of the most popular and reliable establish- 
ments of this character is that of Mr. Robert H. Tatem, on Whitaker Street. Estab- 
lished in 1861, with small capital, it has steadily increased both in capital and sales, 
and is now one of the most popular in Savannah. The store is 18 x 65 ft. in dimen- 
sions, and contains a large and well-selected stock of drugs. Mr. Tatem is a native 
of Virginia, but has resided in Savannah since 1857. His establishment under his 
supervision is well maintained, and compares favorably with any in the city, Mr. 
Tatem has also a fine vineyard near the city, in which he grows the finest qualities of 
grapes, the grounds embracing seventeen acres. He is a gentleman of excellent 
character and reputation, and in all respects merits the success which has attended 
his efforts. 

SOUTHERN EXPRESS COIVIPANY— i^. L. Cooper, Agent, Bull Street, 
Corner Bryan. 
A business history of Savannah without some mention of the Southern Express 
Company would be an omission not to be overlooked by the mass of our business 
men, who look upon it as a great convenience, and an enterprise of which the city 
may feel proud. The inception of this enterprise in this country dates back for a 
quarter of a century at least, and the extent of country over which it operates makes 
it a gigantic industry. It reaches from Richmond, north, where it connects and 
operates with the Adams Express Co., to New Orleans, south, where similar connec- 
tions are had with the Texas Express Co., and so systematic and perfect are the 
arrangements that there is no delay, express matter reaching its destination promptly, 
where it is delivered as directed — the transmission of money .and all valuables, as 
well as packages, boxes, goods of all kinds, fruits, vegetables and all perishable 
articles that must receive prompt attention. Early vegetables, fruits, fish and oysters 
are shipped from points all over the South by this express to the North, and there is 
no loss by delay, as often occurs when shipping by freight, thus proving economical. 
Mr. F. L. Cooper, the local agent, is from Augusta, Ga. ; has had fifteen years expe- 
rience in this business, but has recently been appointed to his present position, and 
he has filled it most satisfactorily. Mr. D. F. Jack, the superintendent, makes 
Savannah his headquarters, and the popularity of the company is largely due to his 
executive ability. 

BACON, JOHNSON & CO.— Planing Mill, Lumber and Wood Yard, corner 

Liberty and East Broad Streets. 
We are free to admit, in descanting upon the many advantages in all departments 
of trade, manufactures and commerce, that pertain to Savannah, that one of the most 
important enterprises connected with this community is that which relates to the 
lumber trade. What the magnitude of these interests are, will appear by comparative 
statistics in the editorial portion of this work, our intention now being to state some 
facts with reference to the firm of Bacon, Johnson & Co., successors to Bacon & 
Brooks, a house which has promoted the business to which we allude to a remark- 
able degree. This establishment has been in existence for twenty years and is a 
prominent enterprise of the kind in this city. The yards at the corner of Liberty and 



134 SAVAN>"AH HER 



East Broad Streets are ample, and the various mills — planing, turning, moulding and 
saw mills — are provided with all the necessary machinery, which is run by ample 
steam power. Twenty-five experienced and competent hands are employed, and the 
products of the establishment consist of mouldings of every description, newels, 
balusters, brackets, pickets, laths, shingles, scroll work and wood, A full stock of 
seasoned lumber and wood is always kept on hand, the varieties of lumber being 
yellow pine, cypress, white pine, black walnut, Florida cedar, mahogany, poplar, ash 
and white oak, also light wood, oak and pine, kindlings, cut or in stick. The trade is 
largely a local one, orders being also received from other places, the sales reaching 
$75,000 per annum. All kinds of lumber, either dressed or rough, can be obtained 
from this firm at the lowest market prices, and the entire establishment compares most 
favorably with any similar concern in the South, The utmost capacity of these mills 
is being tested by the immense demand made upon them at the present time. The 
individual members of the firm are Messrs. A. S. Bacon, L. Johnson and C. W. Pike, 
gentlemen so thoroughly identified with the trade as to need no personal comment at 
our hands. We may be pardoned, however, for sajing, in conclusion, that the 
standing and reputation achieved by the house is such as to warrant the entire confi- 
dence of those with whom it has business relations, and entitles it to the considera- 
tion of that community whose general interests the concern has done so much to 
promote. 

J. F. La FAR — Gents' Fashionable Emporium for Furnishing Goods, Hats, etc., 23 
Bull Street. 
Undoubtedly the leading establishment in Savannah in the furnishing goods line is 
that of Mr. John F. La Far, which, situated in the most fashionable portion of the 
city, has for some time occupied without dispute this position. Mr. La Far carries a 
very large and select stock of goods, embracing all fancy articles, such as neckties, 
scarf-pins, etc., and also the more necessary ones. Coming as the patronage of this 
establishment does from the more select and fashionable portion of the young men of 
this city, he is obliged to keep onl}'- the very best and choicest goods in the market, 
and with his long experience in this line no one in the city is more fitted to conduct 
successfully this well-known house. Thoroughly acquainted witli the grades of the 
Northern markets, he is always enabled to purchase the best of ever3^thing, selecting 
his goods with the skill of one long accustomed to the business. His present position 
as leader of the fashion in Savannah has been obtained b}' unceasing application to 
business, and a nice appreciation of the wants of his patrons, and we can safely rec- 
ommend him to all who wish the best goods in Savannah at the most reasonable 
prices. 



A. H. CHAMPION — Wholesale and Retail Grocer and Produce Commission 
Merchant, 154 Congress and 153 St. Julian Streets. 
In disclosing the advantages that pertain to Savannah in the great channels of com- 
merce and manufactures, it is our intention, while avoiding unnecessar}' minutise, to so 
represent the industries of this community as tO leave no doubt in the minds of 
distant readers that this market not onlj' can, but does, compete as a source of 
supplies with any in the South. In so doing we can not ignore the claims to promi- 
nence of Mr. A. H. Champion, who is engaged as wholesale and retail grocer and 
pi'oduce commission merchant at Xos. 154 Congress Street and 153 St. Julian Street, 



TRADE, COIUMERCE AND INDUSTRIES. 135 

and who, from the extent of his operations, is entitled to recognition in this work. This 
enterprise was established in 1853 by Messrs. Champion & Watts, and in 1860 the 
name was changed to Champion & Freeman, Mr. C. having succeeded to the entire 
control in 1878. The building occupied is four stories in height, 23x60 feet in size, 
and is well adapted for the display and storage of goods ia this line. The stock 
embraces the freshest and best grades of groceries and provisions, choice canned goods 
and every variety of commodities usually found in establishments of this description, 
and is estimated to average $10,000. Six competent and courteous assistants are kept 
constantly employed, and the sales throughout South Carolina, Georgia and Florida 
reach $60,000 per annum. Mr. Champion is a native of this State, and has been 
engaged in this branch of trade all his business life, being now at the head of a house 
that compares most favorably with similar concerns in the South. He has been a 
member of the Chatham Artillery since 19 years of age, and in mercantile relations he 
has, by the energetic business methods and courteous disposition manifest in his 
trade relations, secured a liberal share of public patronage, which must continue to 
increase with the insured growth and development of the city. 

H. D. HEADMAN — Manufacturer of Iron Railing, and Ornamental Iron and 
Wire Work, etc., 117 Broughton Street. 
In a detailed review of the manufacturing industries of Savannah the above well- 
known enterprise ranks as one of the oldest and best known, having been here for 
twenty-five years. He learned his trade in Philadelphia, which is a guarantee of its 
being thoroughly learned, and thence came to Savannah, where he has since resided. 
His present work is mostly in iron railing and ornamental iron and wire work. He 
also does a large business in fencing cemetery lots, and handsome examples of his 
skill can be seen in the cemeteries around Savannah. He employs six to eight com- 
petent hands, who ably second his efforts. Mr. Headman has a wide reputation for 
the excellence and stability of his work, which in all respects can bear comparison 
with any in the country. He is prompt in performing all contracts, and has a high 
reputation in the community both as a competent workman and reliable and straight- 
forward man. 

J. R. HALTIWANCER — Drtiggist, Northeast Corner Brouglitoyi and Drayton 

Streets. 
One of the best and most popular drug stores in Savannah is undoubtedly that of 
Dr. J. R. Haltiwanger, at the corner of Broughton and Drayton Streets. Situated on 
the most important thoroughfare of the city, it is equal in every respect to any there, 
both as regards the excellency and purity of the articles sold and for the general 
reputation of the establishment. It embraces an area of 25x35 feet, facing on Drayton 
and Broughton Streets. The stock carried is valued at $3,500, and the annual sales 
amount to $10,000 and are rapidly increasing. The Doctor and his able and courteous 
assistant, Mr. Hill, compound and sell a number of valuable remedies, which have a 
wide reputation. Among these we will mention Ilaltiwanger's Balsam, Haltiwanger's 
May Apple Pills, Fever and Ague, and many others. Special mention should be made 
of the "Golden Injection" prepared by them. This medicine is the best and most 
harmless remedy for gonorrhea known, and as an evidence of its popularity we will 
merely mention that an order for New York was not long since filled and forwarded. 
The Artillery Cologne is also having an extensive sale. Dr. Haltiwanger is by pro- 



136 SAVANNAH HER 



fession a physician, and commenced the drug business in 1869, being thus doubly 
fitted for his present occupation. He is a native of Lexington County, South Carolina, 
but has resided here since 1869. He is well-known throughout the community as a 
conscientious and careful druggist, as is also his assistant, INIr. Hill, and we willingly 
advise those who are suffering from anj^ disorder to go to him for consultation. 




A. W. HARMON — Savannah Club Livery, Sale and Boarding Stables^ Drayton, 
Hull and McDonmigh Streets. 

When and how the system of hiring horses, for longer or shorter periods, originated, 
it is probably hard now to determine, but to whatever date and cause it is to be 

attributed, certain it is that the system as it is now 
carried out is not onlj' one of our greatest modern 
conveniences, but is an absolute necessity. With 
the growth of our population has increased the 
demand for livery teams, carriages, etc., and the 
business has assumed great proportions. Among 
the several livery establishments in Savannah, the Savannah club stables, conducted 
by Mr. A. W. Harmon, deserves especial mention in this work as being one in ever}- 
way a representative of the best class of such establishments. These stables, situated 
on Drayton, Hull and McDonough Streets, are complete in every way, and are ar- 
ranged in a manner that affords the greatest convenience in every department. This 
enterprise was started by Mr. Harmon four j'^ears ago, and has attained a high posi- 
tion among similar establishments in the city. The stables are built of brick, and are 
two stories high, and contain sixtj^-two stalls, besides accommodation for vehicles of 
every description. Riding or driving, single or double teams, canalwa3^s be secured, 
and special attention is given to supplying carriages for parties, balls, weddings and 
other occasions. Fifteen employees are required in the business, the line of vehicles 
kept on hand is stylish and of most popular and recent manufacture, and a most 
satisfactory and lucrative trade is enjoyed throughout the cit3\ Mr. Harmon is a 
business man in the fullest and best sense of the term, and his congenial disposition 
and cordial sincerit}^ have made him extremely' popular with that part of the public 
with whom he comes in contact. To our readers, whether residents of Savannah or 
from abroad, we particularly commend this establishment, which, in the style of stock, 
turnouts and moderation in price, is not eclipsed by any competitor in the Forest 
City or elsewhere. 

P. E. MASTERS— Plumber and Gas-fitter, 187 State Street. 

The profession of the plumber, like all others, requires no little amount of skill 
and judgment, as well as close application to all its details; and in Savannah, which 
can boast of many first-class plumbers, none are more competent workmen, or 
are more reliable in every respect, than Mr. T. E. Masters. Himself a master work- 
man, he employs only the best and most experienced hands, who like himself are 
thoroughly acquainted with the trade in its minutest details, and who are prompt in 
its execution. Mr. Masters is a native of St. Augustine, Florida, but has resided 
in Savannah for twenty-four years, and has always identified himself with Savannah 
and its interests. We take pleasure in calling attention to this establishment as one 
at which the best work, as well as the promptest, is always guaranteed and carried 
out, Mr. Masters stands well in all respects, is well liked and generall}- popular. 



TRADE, COlVEtfERCE AND ESTDUSTRIES. 137 

THOMAS J. HALLICAN — Plumbing and Gas-Fitting, 45 Bull Street. 

In connection with the manufacturing history of Savannah and her other industries, 
the establishment of Mr. Halligan is well worthy of notice as one of the best and most 
reliable in his line to be found in the city. With an experience of eighteen years, of 
which he has most faithfully availed himself, Mr. Halligan is now amply fitted to 
undertake any contract, large or small, in his line, and also to perform it, as he invari- 
ably does, in the most thorough and workmanlike manner. His store is well 
arranged, and fitted out with the best and most modern appliances ; and the stock is 
handsome and varied, embracing brackets, chandeliers, drop lights, pendants, port- 
able stands and plumbing material in general. He does all description of plumbing, 
fitting out stores, private residences and other buildings in the most thorough and 
workmanlike manner. He employs competent assistants, who are under his personal 
supervision. Mr. Halligan is a native of Ireland, but has resided here for nearly 
thirty-five years, and has gained an enviable reputation for himself during that period. 
He is always prompt and fulfills faithfully all contracts undertaken by him. 

E. L. NEIOLINGER, SON & CO.— Dealers in Saddles and Harness , Belting , 

Saddleryware-, Harness and Sole Leather, 156 St. Julian and 153 Bryan Streets. 
This well-known firm, which has been in existence since 1860, is by far the largest 
and most important in Savannah, having survived the vicissitudes of the war 
unscathed, and throughout a business life of twenty-four years has stood, as at pres- 
ent, at the head of similar firms in Savannah. The firm was founded in 1860 by Mr. 
E. L. Neidliuger, the senior partner, who in 1881 admitted his son, Mr. W. C. Neid- 
linger, and Mr. J. W. Rabun, the Co. Their premises occupy three floors of 30x90 
feet each, and filled with a complete stock of the most improved saddles, harness, 
belting of all sizes and varieties, harness and sole leather, etc., all from the best 
manufacturers in the country, and selected with care to suit their numerous custom- 
ers. Their trade extends through Georgia, South Carolina and Florida, and is yearly 
increasing. The stock is valued at $18,000 to $20,000, and requires the con- 
stant attention of five employees, while the annual sales foot up $50,000 and are 
growing rapidly. All the members of the firm are natives of Savannah, and have had 
long experience in their line. All stand well in every respect, both in and outside of 
business circles. Persons visiting Savannah, and in need of goods in their line, 
would do well to call on them before going elsewhere. 

J. H. KOCH — Watchmaker and JeiveJer, 22h WhitaJcer Street. 

The establishment of Mr. Koch is eligibly situated on Whitaker Street, and ranks 
among the leading jewelry stores of the city. The store is admirably fitted up with 
handsome show leases and other appurtenances for the advantageous display of the 
handsome and varied stock he carries. Mr. Koch has an especially fine lot of 
diamonds, all handsomely mounted and set. He also carries a complete line of 
American and foreign watches, from the most noted manufacturers, and a most 
elegant assortment of jewelry of all kinds of the most exquisite pattern and designs, 
silver and plated ware, and in fact everything which constitutes one of the best 
appointed jewelry stores in the city. He is also agent for Dr. Julius King's cele- 
brated combination spectacles, of which over a million are in use, and which are pro- 
nounced by experts the best in the market. In all respects Mr. Koch's establishment 
ranks among the best in Savannah, and is well deserving the extensive and increasing 
patronage which it enjoys. 



138 SAVANNAH HER 



JOHN A' DORNEY — Carpenter and Builder and Manufacturer of Titman's 
Patent JieJ'riyerators, 141 President Street. 
The contracting and building industry forms in all large cities a most important 
branch of trade, and in Savannah, which has made such vast strides within the last 
few years, this line deserves especial notice ; and among those who have the highest 
reputation for excellence of work and reliability in performing conscientiously all 
contracts we notice Mr. J. A. Dome}', who embraces in his establishment all lines and 
branches of contracting and building. In addition to the general business of con- 
tracting and building, he is also the only manufacturer of Titman's celebrated refrig- 
erators, which have a wide reputation all over the United States, and which possess 
advantages over the ordinary refrigerators which at once stamp its superiority. 
Orders for this refrigerator either by mail or otherwise will receive immediate attention, 
and satisfaction is guaranteed. Mr. Dorney is a gentlemen of high standing in all 
respects and is well deserving of the patronage of the community. 

APPEL BROS.— Clothiers and Hatters, No. 163 Congress Street. 

The wholesale and retail clothing and hat trade is in all cities an important branch, 
and in Savannah there are houses which for quality and variety of stock carried, as 
well as fair and open dealing and low prices, can compare with any in the country. 
Prominent among these we may notice the well-known firm of Appel Bros., whose 
store on Congress Street is among the leaders of fashion and prices. The members 
of the firm are Mr. Charles Appel and Mr. H. G. Appel, both gentlemen well-known 
as prudent, energetic and reliable business men. Their store, which is 23x90 feet, 
contains a stock valued at $20,000, while the annual sales amount to S60,000, and are 
increasing, the trade extending through Georgia, Florida and South Carolina. The 
stock carried is as complete and varied as possible, embracing all the latest novelties 
in gents' clothing, from the full dress suit to the plainest business suit, gents' under- 
wear of every description, collars, cuffs, shirts, etc. They also carry a very fine line 
of hats from the most celebrated makers, native and foreign, which are sold at as low 
a figure as their clothing. All their goods are guaranteed and always come up to 
standard. Besides this they are sole agents for Tower's celebrated oil clothing and 
rubber goods, which are world renowned. Country merchants and farmers, as well 
as others who come to Savannah, can find no better and more reliable store than this 
one. Their money will be well invested, and as the first sale lays the foundation of 
orders they will most surely return. Orders sent by mail will also be promptly and 
satisfactorily filled. 

H. J. MEYER — Practical Plumbing, Gas aud Steam Fitting, 46 Wliitaker Street. 
Savannah, like other cities, is well represented in the plumbing line, and it forms 
an important item in an account of the industries of the city. Among the best estab- 
lishments in the city is the well-known house of IVIr. H. J. Meyer, at 40 Whitaker 
Street. With new and improved tools, a fresh and complete stock of plumbers' 
materials, and a fine and elegant line of chandeliers, brackets and gas fixtures, tliis 
house is prepared to compete with any, both for quality and cheapness of work. 
Mr. Meyer is a young and enterprising man, well acquainted with all the details of 
his trade, and has ever}' prospect of success, backed as he is by energy and honesty. 
His store is a neat and attractive one, and the stock is full and varied. We 
cheerfully recommend him to all who wish the best work in his line, promptly and 
thoroughly done. 



TRADE, COMMERCE AND INDUSTRIES. 



139 



M. J. DOYLE — Dealer in Groceries, Liquors, Tobacco, Cigars, Grain, Hay, etc. 
Market Square, East Side. 

The grocery trade in Savannah represents a larger amount of capital than other 
lines, and, extending as it does through many of the Southern States, its representa- 
tives demand more than a passing notice. No house in the country stands higher 
than the more prominent ones, their integrity, promptness and general reputation 
insuring them always extra facilities and accommodations from the large Northern 
dealers. Among those who may be classed thus is the well-known establishment of 
Mr. M. J. Doyle, which, for twenty years, has occupied a leading place in the busi- 
ness of Savannah. Established in 1864 when the South was lying helpless and bank- 
rupt, Mr. Doyle has steadily fought his way up, and to-day no merchant is more 
trusted or looked up to than he, and none do a safer or more reliable business. His 
store is 60x90 feet in dimensions, and has three floors, containing goods valued at 
$10,000, while his annual sales amount to $150,000, distributed through Georgia, 
South Carolina and Florida. His stock embraces the choicest groceries, liquors, 
tobacco and cigars ; also grain and hay. His groceries are all carefully selected and 
are the best ; his liquors are pure, and guaranteed the finest. He also receives and 
sells large quantities of grain, hay, etc. Mr. Doyle is a native of Ireland, but has 
lived in Savannah for thirty-five years. He is a gentleman of high standing, courteous 
and polite, and has the confidence of his customers. As this is the only exclusively 
cash house in the city, he is enabled to buy at much lower rates than other dealers, 
and consequently to offer inducements to his customers such as none other can. 

CORMACK HOPKINS — Tin Roofer and Manufacturer oj Tinware, Stoves, 
Copperware, Tin and Sheet Iron, etc., 167 Broughton Street. 

Savannah undoubtedly contains 
establishments in all branches of 
trade and manufactures which may 
challenge comparison with any 
similar ones in the country, and 
prominent among these is that of 
Mr. Cormack Hopkins on Brough- 
ton Street. Started by the present 
proprietor in 1868, just after the 
war, he has by industry and steady 
application attained a rank in his 
profession not inferior to that of 
any in the same branch of trade in 
Savannah. His establishment is 20x90 feet in dimensions, two stories in height, with 
a warehouse 20x50 feet. His stock is extensive and varied, comprising every article 
in demand. His trade is far reaching, and embraces Georgia, Florida and South 
Carolina, and will doubtless under his efficient management reach even farther. Mr. 
Hopkins is a native of Georgia, being born in 1832, and having lived in this section 
all his life. He employs upwards of twenty hands, who perform well and faithfully 
all contracts undertaken by him. Mr. Hopkins is a gentleman of good standing in 
the community, and is respected by all classes with whom he comes in contact. His 
work is always well performed, and his house is well-known in Savannah for stability 
and general excellence. 




140 SAVANNAH HER 



DAVID WEISBEIN & CO. — Dry Goods, Hosiery, Laces, Embroidery and Fancy 
Goods, and Manufacturers uf Ladies' Underxcear, 153 Brotighton Street; Neio York Office, 
369 Broadway. 
To build up a large and successful business is, with most men, the work of a life- 
time, and it is only in exceptional instances that a man of more than ordinary ability, 
tact and energy can proudly point to an establishment which, in magnitude of busi- 
ness transacted, far surpasses his neighbors, and say, "All this in a few short years 
I have done, which my rivals in trade have not accomplished in a life-time." In 
Savannah this can with truth be said of the firm of David Weisbein & Co. In 1870, 
one of the most unpromising business years in the history of the country, they started 
with small capital, but backed by energy and a determination to succeed. How they 
have succeeded can best be told by visiting their immense establishment and watch- 
ing the ceaseless stream of trade which all day long throngs its counters. Their store 
occupies an entire building, four stories in height, each story 35x90 feet in dimen- 
sions, and contains a stock valued at $75,000, while the annual sales foot up the 
enormous total of $300,000— $100,000 wholesale and $200,000 retail, thus making 
their retail trade by far the largest in the city. To transact this immense business 
forty hands are kept constantly busy. One of the most noticeable features of this 
establishment is the admirable system and order which is required and maintained. 
Each clerk knows his or her allotted task, and performs it without interfering with any 
one else ; each article has its place, from which it can be taken and displaj^ed at a 
moment's notice; and seeing all this, one can understand the success which has at- 
tended this firm in its business transactions. Each story, too, is filled with a partic- 
ular line of goods, arranged as follows: the first floor to display and retail sale of 
dry goods of all varieties, fancy goods, trimmings, notions, laces, embroideries, etc., 
all selected with taste and judgment to suit his numerous customers. The second 
floor to cloaks, shawls, and suits. They have undoubtedly the finest cloak and shawl 
parlors in the State, and their stock in this line is by far the handsomest in the city. 
They also have one of the finest assortments of blankets in the South, of all styles and 
prices. The third floor is devoted to the wholesale department exclusively, and the 
basement to the storage of reserve stock. Messrs. Weisbein & Co. also have a resi- 
dent buyer in New York City, who, ever watching the variations of the market, and 
always on hand at forced sales, enables them to sell goods at prices which defy all 
competition. The New York oflfice is at 369 Broadway. Mr. Weisbein is a native of 
Prussia, born there in 1842, but came to America in 1859, and since 1869 he has lived 
in Savannah, with whose interests he has thoroughly identified himself. He com- 
menced his present line of business in Stettin, Prussia, and has thus had the expe- 
rience of a lifetime in it, of which he has made good use, and the result is his present 
splendid establishment and business, which business has no limits in the future, if 
conducted as heretofore, under his supervision, and administered with his financial 
ability. His standing, both in and out of business circles, is excellent in all respects, 
and he is by all regarded as one of the representative business men of the place. If 
there be any man, young or old, who is discouraged at seeming obstacles in his busi- 
ness, let him read this article and ponder on the lesson it teaches. Let him see what 
determination, energy, and straightforward, honorable dealings have done, and with 
this example before him resolve to do likewise. All things come to him who waits — 
not with folded hands and despondent heart, but who can toil patiently and uncom- 
plainingly, waiting for the reward which will one day be his, as it has been that of 
the firm of which this article treats. 



TRADE, COMMERCE AND INDUSTRIES. 141 

JOHN Mclaughlin & son — Auction and Commission and Real Estate, 
166 Bay Street. 

In a town so active and bustling as Savannah, where improvements are constantly 
going on, and also where property is changing hands frequently, there must neces- 
sarily be one or more firms who make the details of such transactions their specialty. 
Undoubtedly the largest, by far, in this line is the well-known house of John 
McLaughlin & Son, which has been established since 1865, and has, by attention and 
strict and reliable action in all dealings, obtained the largest and best business in 
Savannah. The firm occupies the spacious building at 166 Bay Street, which is well 
fitted up with every convenience for the various lines which they so successfully con- 
duct. They employ four competent hands, who thoroughly understand the business, 
being trained under the watchful eye of the proprietors in all its details. An enor- 
mous commission business is transacted, amounting yearly to not less than $170,000, 
and increasing. They also dispose of, at auction, property, real and personal, of all 
descriptions, including provisions, furniture, horses and carriages, etc., some of the 
most valuable in the State having passed under their supervision, and in every in- 
stance have given satisfaction to all concerned. Besides this they transact a gen- 
eral real estate business, buying and selling, renting, caring for property, paying 
taxes, etc. Messrs. Laughlin & Son enjoy advantages in this business which few 
have. Their ample experience, sound judgment, large correspondence, and general 
push and energy, amply qualify them for their responsible position, and no similar 
house in Savannah is more fit to be intrusted with business of this nature. They 
enjoy an enviable reputation for business integrity, and are highly esteemed for per- 
sonal qualities. Consignments of stock, of goods, or any property on which immediate 
money is desired from, will receive their prompt attention and be put on sale at the 
first favorable time. 

L. CARSON — Livery and Boarding Stables, Broughton Street. 

A first-class and reliable livery stable is a necessity in every community, the 
importance of which cannot be overestimated. Every one who owns a fine horse is 
desirous of seeing him well treated and cared for, because such is the constitution of 
these animals that the slightest mistake or wrong treatment may injure them forever. 
Many fine animals worth thousands of dollars have no doubt been ruined by careless- 
ness and inattention, which were called by other names. It is, therefore, of |the 
utmost importance to know, when one wishes to board a valuable animal, where to put 
him. In Savannah this question is easily answered by all who have had dealings 
with Mr. L. Carson, the popular livery stable keeper of the Marshall House, on 
Broughton Street. Mr. Carson keeps a fine establishment and has thirty horses of 
his own for hire, no less than thirty-five horses boarding, some very fine animals. He 
is prepared to contract for funerals, parties, weddings, etc., and is always punctual 
to his engagements. He also buys and sells. His stables are two in number, two 
stories each in height, and are thoroughly fitted out for the carrying on of his large and 
increasing business. Mr. Carson is a native of Downs County, Ireland, but has been 
in Savannah since 1845, thus being practically a Savannahian in all respects, and has 
a force of assistants all capable and attentive. He has had eighteen years experience 
in this profession, and is therefore as competent to assume the control of such a busi- 
ness as experience and knowledge can make him. He is popular, reliable and 
stands well with all classes of the community. 



142 SAVANNAH HER 



BOCART & HAMMOND — Cotton Factors and Commission Merchants, General 
Agents for Chesapeake Guano Company's Standard Brand Ammoniated Guano, No. 96 
Bay Street. 

Within the last few years Savannah has assumed the rank of the second cotton port 

in the Union, a proud distinction, and which has been won only by the indomitable 

energy and perseverance of her merchants. In addition to this she has become the 

distributing point for fertilizers, an article so much needed, and which brings the 

farmer so bountiful and ready a return. The firm of Messrs. Bogart & Hammond 

are general agents for the celebrated Chesapeake Guano Company's Standard Brand 

<B & H> Ammoniated Guano, the merits of which are too well established to be a 

matter of comment here. Country merchants in Georgia, Florida and Alabama can 

get the article at producers' prices through this firm. They conduct also a general 

commission business in cotton, extending such favors to their patrons as they are 

justly entitled to, while all their consignors of cotton receive prompt attention and 

early remittances of all money. Their experience and ability render the firm one of 

the best in Savannah with which to conduct business. Enjoying the confidence of the 

business community'' as honorable and reliable men, and financially on a solid basis, 

the house well deserves the extended and increasing trade it is enjoying, and must 

assuredly continue to stand among the prominent merchants in this line of business. 

WOODBRIDCE & HARRIMAN — Cotton Factors and General Commission 

Merchants, No. 54 Bay Street. 

This well-known house enjoys a reputation of which the proprietors may well be 
proud, and in a work of this nature deserves more than a passing notice. Its busi- 
ness is conducted on the highest principles of honor and integrity, together with 
energy and ability, and these facts, combined with the genial and courteous manners 
of the members of the firm, have brought to it the eminent success it has attained, 
and its importance in the business community of this place. Founded in 1865 as 
Bothwele & Woodbridge, in 1870 it became AV. B. Woodbridge ; in 1878 B. W. 
Woodbridge, and in 1881 the present firm. Their business, which amounts to 15,000 
bales of cotton per annum, is yearly increasing, extending through Georgia, Florida 
and South Carolina, in all of which .States they enjoy the confidence of their numerous 
customers. The members of the firm are B. W. Woodbridge and Orlando Harriman, 
Mr. Woodbridge being a native of Savannah, and Mr. Harriman of New York. Mr. 
Woodbridge' s father was for many years collector of this port, a position which he 
acceptably filled. They offer the most liberal inducements to consignors, making 
large cash advances on consignments and guaranteeing prompt returns ; and com- 
manding, as they do, a large and infiuential class of buyers both here and in Europe, 
none are more suited to receive and dispose of all goods sent them. 

FOOTMAN & CO. — Insurance, Life, Fire and Marine, 118 Bay Street. 

The necessity of insurance is fully recognized by all classes, from the merchant 
who, shut up in his counting-room, never sees the ocean from year to year, to the 
ship-owner and captain whose all depends upon the fickle winds and waves. Amidst 
the dangers which every day pass us by, we know not how near, we may soon fall ; 
in view of such a continguency it is the duty of every man to provide for those who 
look to him for support. Savannah has ample insurance facilities, all of the largest 
companies in the world being represented here, and among the most prominent and 
reliable agencies maybe classed that of R. H. Footman «fe Co., whose business and 



TRADE, COMMERCE AND INDUSTRIES. 143 

general standing will bear comparison with any. Mr. Footman is a native of Georgia, 
and has lived here all his life. He first commenced in 1859, and established the firm 
of R. H. Footman & Co. in 1866, since which year they have successfully conducted 
the business. Mr. C. F. Prendergast has been a member of the firm since 1879. 
They are agents for the following companies: Home and Continental, of New York; 
Phoenix, of London; Queen, of England ; Virginia Home, of Richmond, Va. ; Man- 
hattan Life ; Insurance Company of North America. All these companies are of 
world-wide reputation both for solvency and prompt payment of claims. Mr. Foot- 
man and Mr. Prendergast are both gentlemen of high standing in all respects, and 
those who wish to insure in either fire, life or marine companies, can obtain from 
them the most reasonable rates and the best indemnity. 

MRS. KATE POWER — Straiv, Millinery and Fancy Goods, 168 Broughton. 

The neatest and most attractive establishment in Savannah in the millinery line is 
that of Mrs. Kate Power, on Broughton Street, and we doubt if any can exhibit as 
pleasing and attractive a line of goods as hers. Mrs. Power commenced her present 
business about seven years ago, and has throughout that time conducted her business 
with an energy and enterprise which command the respect and patronage of all. She 
carries a good stock of children's goods of all kinds, and also makes a specialty of 
ribbons and fancy goods, laces, flowers, feathers, hats, bonnets, trimmings, and an 
unequalled line of embroidery of beautiful designs and patterns. Four skilled assist- 
ants are employed. The work coming from this establishment has attained a wide 
popularity for its elegance and taste and superior finish. Mrs. Power is a native of 
Savannah, and is therefore well entitled to the extensive patronage which she enjoys. 

HAVENS — Photographer, Photographer's Stock and Materials, Engravings and 
Fine Art Goods, 141 and 143 Broughton Street. 
Forty-five years ago, an obscure French chemist made the first steps in what was 
then deemed the wild dream of an enthusiast, which to-day has risen to the position of 
an art, to be master of which requires as thorough study, application and perseverance 
as any of its sister arts. Journals, as well and ably edited as those of painting or 
sculpture, are devoted entirely to its study and advancement, and the photographic 
studio of the present will contest the palm of beauty and elegance with that of the 
most eminent painter. This result has been'brought about by the unremitting labors 
of those who have made this branch their life study, one improvement following 
another, and each one benefitting by the experience of his neighbor. Among this 
band of handiworkers we will include the proprietor and owner of the best photograph 
gallery, not only in Savannah but in the South, and, we may add, one of the best in 
the United States. Mr. Havens is a native of Sing Sing, New York, born there in 
1840, and has resided in Savannah for the past ten years. In 1874 he opened his 
present establishment with a small capital, which has since been increased to $10,000. 
His stock averages $8,000 in value, and the annual business transacted amounts to 
$16,000, and is rapidly increasing. He employs six capable assistants, who are con- 
stantly kept busy filling orders, which come from all parts of the South, including 
North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida. His rooms are most elegantly 
fitted up, and the walls are hung with fine engravings after the most eminent masters. 
Among these, occupying a conspicuous place, we notice a magnificent one of the cele- 
brated picture "The Pursuit of Pleasure," by Sir Noel Paton, which is of itself a 
gem. There are also some very fine German photographs, that of "The Fisherman', 



144 SAVAXNAH HER 



being especiall}' noticeable. His stocli of engravings and artists' material is probably 
the finest in the South, Of the quality and excellence of Mr. Havens' work mention 
is almost superfluous. Known as it is everywhere as equal to any, and equalled by 
but few, to make it better known is almost impossible. For delicac}^ of finish, grace- 
ful posing and life-like expression, they may well challenge comparison without fears 
as to the result. In addition to his skill as a photographor, Mr, Havens has made an 
invention which has excited considerable comment among photographic journals, so 
much so that a prominent paper has sent to him for a cut of his invention. It is a 
skylight of a new and novel design, which he has tested in his own rooms, and has 
found to answer every expectation and to be far superior to the old style. Mr. 
Havens is known in the community as a prompt and reliable gentleman, and is as 
popular among outsiders as with his customers. In conclusion, we would state to all 
who may ever pass through Savannah, that a visit there is incomplete without going 
to "Havens'." as all who go there are welcomed, whether customers or not. 

F. C. WYLLY — Stocks, Bonds and Real Estate, 120 Bryan Street. 

No business requires more attention, diligence and reliability than the above enter- 
prise ; and Mr. Wylly is in every respect fitted to conduct it, both by his long and 
varied experience and sound judgment. He buys, sells and rents all manner of real 
estate, including stores, warehouses, blocks, hotels, residences, vacant lots. etc. 
He gives his closest attention to all property entrusted him, and inconsequence enjoj^s 
the fullest confidence of his patrons. His list of property on sale is large, and 
includes some of the most desirable property in Savannah. In stocks and bonds, Mr. 
Wylly also does a large and increasing business. Being in constant communication 
with the great money centres of the Union, and watching closely the prices of stocks 
and other securities, he is always ready to buy or sell as the case may be, and his 
sound judgment and business tact are invaluable to him in this difficult branch of 
business. He^also stands well in all other respects, is well liked and popular, and is 
generally regarded as one of the most promising business men in Savannah. 

KUCKUCK & SEEM AN — Editors and Proprietors of the ^'Georgia Familien 
Journal.^' 102 Bruughton Street. 
The press everywhere wields an influence far mightier than that of any other single 
profession, and that State or city which has the best paper is the most progressive. 
In Savannah the large and increasing German population demand a paper in their 
own language, and this want, for some time past very sensibly felt, has been at length 
supplied by the editors of the above journal. These gentlemen, recognizing the 
necessity of a German paper, in 1882, November 18th, commenced its publication, 
and their success has been all they could desire. The "Journal" is an eight-page 
paper, published weekly, and contains all the latest news, together with interesting 
stories and sketches by the best German authors. Its circulation extends through 
Georgia, Florida, North Carolina and South Carolina, and is yearly increasing. In 
addition to their newspaper the proprietors have a neat bookstore, containing text 
books in German and English, stationery, etc. Mr. Kuckuck is a native of Hanover, 
Germanj^, has resided in America for a number of years, having been for twelve 
years in the office of the "Philadelphia Democrat," and all his life directly or indi- 
rectly connected with journalism. Mr. Seeman is a native of Schlesien, Germany. 
Both gentlemen are able and energetic journalists, of excellent character and standing 
in the community, and deserve and get the support and patronage of all classes in 
their praiseworthy enterprise. 



\K 



Decatur and Evansville Railway ! 

SHORT LINE AND QUICKEST IN TIME 

TO ALL POINTS 

NORTH. AVEST, A.ND IS^ORTH-^^^Ji:8T. 



ONLY LINE RUNNING SOLID TRAINS 

BETWEEN 

EVANSVILLE, 

MATTOON, 

DECATUR, 

AND PEORIA. 



At Evansville connection for both passenger and freight with this line is made, and 
thus taps the whole Northern Railroad System, giving it 

THROUGH CONNECTIONS AND FACILITIES 

— TO — 

PEORIA, ILL , 

ROCK ISLAND, ILL., 

BURLINGTON, IOWA. 

OMAHA, NEB., 

ST. PAUL, MINN.. 

MINNEAPOLIS, MINN., 

CHICAGO, ILL., 

And all points in the North- West, as well as all points in the States of 

ILLINOIS, IOWA, WISCONSIN, MINNESOTA, DAKOTA, OREGON, MONTANA, 

NEBRASKA AND COLORADO. 



The road is thoroughly equipped with the latest improved and best rolling stock! 

The track laid with Steel Rails ! 
Safety appliances on passenger trains I Courteous and attentive train officials! 



TAKE A TRIP OVER THIS LINE AND BE CONVINCED ! 

GEO. L BRADBURY, H. C. PARKER, S. M. MILLER, 

Vice-Pies. and Gen'l Manager. Traffic Mana;rer. Gen'l Pass, and Tkt. Agt. 



THE GRAND MUSICAL EMPORIUM OF THE SOUTH ! 



<4LUDDEN Z' BATESV 

SOUTHERN MUSIC HOUSE, 

SAVANNAH, GEORGIA, 




— \ND CHAIN OF IIUANCII HODSES: 



AUGUSTA, GA., 3IACOX, GA., ROME, GA., CHARLOTTE, X. C, 

Geo. 0. Robinsomf Co. E. D. Trvine. II. A. Smith. Mc Smith Mxisic Iloiise . 

GOLDSBORO, X.'c, JACKSONVILLE, FLA., COLUMBUS, GA., 

imi. B. Line. A. B. Campbell. 



D. C. Shutse. 



MERTDIAX, MESS., 

A. Gressett. 



KNOXVILLE, TENN. 

* Price (^' Richards. 



PIAKOS.— Cluckerinp; and Sons, 
I.udden & Bales, Malhushek Orches- 
tral, Arion Grand Square. Soiitli- 
ern Wliolesale Distribuliug Depot. 
Prices same as at Factories. 

SHEET MLirSIC; .KTin MUSIC 

BOOKS.— Ditpon's ^l)eclal Agency. 
Tlie onlv Wholesale Stock Snuih. 
Larsc-^t Oiscoiuits to Scliools.TeaQh- 
ers and Dealers. 

KANI> IXSTRUMENTS-Brass 
and Silver, in whole sets or single 
iiieces. Oourtois Cornets, French 
Light Pist"n Valves, llolary Valve.s. 
Best American and Foreign Manu- 
facture. 

FREKC'H MUSIC BOXES, 

Music Folii's, Piano Stools, I'iiuo 
Covers, Fine Accordeons, Music 
Stands, Kichter Harmonicas. 




OR«AXS Mason & Hamlin, Bay 

State, and Packard Orchestral. Over 
200 styles, from %ii to |750. Prices 
same as at Factories. 

IMPORTED «>OODS.— Violins, 
Guitars, Flutes, Fifes, Clarionets, 
Violoncellos, Harmonicas, Accorde- 
ons. Banjos, Dnims, Strings, and 
everything known to tlie music trade. 

OUR SPEC'IAI.TIES.-Genuine 
Courtois Cornets, Martin Guitars. 
Diibson Banjos, Paganini Strings. 

NEW YORK BRANCH, under 
charge of Mr. \V. Lndden, Kesident 
New York Buyer. 

liUDOEN A BATES' Silver 
Tone Pianos. Our own Manufact- 
ure, from the case up. I'erfection 
in Tone, Touch and Finish. 



A MAMMOTH HOUSE THAT DOES CREDIT TO SAVANNAH 

AND THE SOU TH ! 

Established in 1870. First year's sales f50,000. Last \e;u > marly $500,000. Brau^i Hou>c 
ami Piano Factory in New York City. Nine Southern Branch Houses, Over 200 Agents 
and Employees. Over 2,000 Pianos and Organs sold yearly. Goods .shipped to 
every Southern State. One thousand dealers and teachers regularly sup- 
pliod. Large double store at Savannah — six floors and basement. 
Business thoroughly systematized. Over 200 letters re- 
ceived and answered daily. §5,000 worth of postage 
stamps, and 200,000 envelopes used yearly. 
Our own printing ollice. Five Tumrs. 
Ten Traveling Salesmen. 



7\ 



SOUTHERN WHOLESALE PIANO AND ORGAN DEPOT. 



Money Saved to every Piano and Organ Purchaser. 

ay TE V Gli i \D MAKERS to select from. Oivr 300 different .ifi/lrs and pi ices, and aU from old and reliable 
Makers. Xo .stencil in strmnents sold. Makers' names on all. Over 200 Pianos and Orflan.s displavcd in our imrc 
rooms All sti/les and all prices. EoRlest In.'itallment Terms, Every inducement that an;/ responmble 
offer. Competition with the world. Don't fail to send for Catalogue and Prices. Address, 

LUDDEN & BATES' SOUTHERN MUSIC HOUSE, Savannah, Georgia. 

8^f°See I>ii>,iiirs> notice oil itAtsc 7S. 



